258 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



The moor-hen is abundantly common on every moor and swamp 

 throughout the country ; and is equally so in Ireland, Holland, and 

 various parts of the continent. 



No water- fowl suffers so much from severe frost ; a hard winter is 

 generally fatal to many of them. They creep into holes by the banks 

 of ponds and rivers during such trying occasions, or hide in the 

 thickest willow-beds in the neighbourhood. 



When closely pursued they are very reluctant to fly ; and the 

 sportsman is constantly disappointed of his shot by seeing his dog 

 emei'ge from the thicket with a live moor-hen in its mouth. 



The moor-hen of Ionia is highly commended, and was formerly in 

 high estimation : " Attagen maxume lonius celeber et vocalis 

 alias."* 



It is also said, by ancient writers, that so soon as this bird is taken 

 captive it loses its voice and becomes mute, but at other times is 

 noisy enough ; of old it was reputed a rare and singular bird : 

 " Captus vero obmutescens quondam existumatus inter raras avis."f 



* Pliny, lib. x. cap. 48. 



t .^lian Hist. Amm,, lib. xv. cap. 27. Pliny, lib. x. cap. 48. 



