THE MOORHEN AND COOT. 339 



When in a semi-domesticated state it is very pro- 

 bable Moorhens remain in pairs for life ; and what I note 

 as peculiar is, no matter how the birds are preserved, 

 still they do not increase in numbers corresponding to 

 the young birds hatched. Sometimes three broods are 

 reared in a season, say of eight birds each ; still the next 

 the birds are not seen in increased numbers. They 

 must therefore for the most part forsake their birthplace 

 when they reach maturity, and seek abodes elsewhere — a 

 circumstance more common, I am led to believe, than is 

 usually supposed, not only in this species, but in most 

 birds. 



The Moorhen makes its nest amongst the herbage 

 on the banks of the water, or even in the centre of the 

 pool amongst the water-flags. Sometimes they will 

 build on the top of the pollard willows, or in the 

 branches of the trees overhanging the water. It is a 

 large and well-made structure, composed of the aquatic 

 herbage and mayhap a few withered leaves. The eggs, 

 from six to twelve in number, are rather larger than 

 those of the Landrail, otherwise they closely resemble 

 them, being pale reddish-white, blotched and spotted 

 with purple and deep red. The young Moorhens, little 

 creatures black as jet, take to the water almost as soon 

 as hatched, where they are tended by their parents until 

 they can forage for themselves, when they doubtless 

 quit their birthplace for localities elsewhere. 



To see the Moorhen swimming gracefully over the 

 water or walking with ease about the adjoining land, one 

 would think he would be awkwardness itself when in the 

 branches of a tree. Yet the very reverse is the case, 

 and not only does he frequent the trees, but he will 

 often show a decided partiality for them. In the depth 

 of winter, when his favourite pool is covered with an icy 



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