BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



229 



MOORHEN. Also WATERHEN. 



(Gallinula chloropus.} 

 Order FULICARLE ; Family RALLID^: (RAILS). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length about thirteen inches. 

 Bill of medium length, nearly 

 straight, greenish-yellow at the 

 tip, and red at the base and 

 for some distance up the naked 

 forehead, where the coot is 

 white. Irides reddish - hazel. 

 Head and neck dark bluish- 

 grey. Back, wings, rump, and 

 upper side of tail dark olive- 

 brown. Breast and sides dark bluish-grey ; belly 

 and vent grey ; flanks streaked with white. Under 

 tail-coverts white. Legs and feet greenish-yellow ; 

 claws rather long and brown. Above the knee 



MOORHEN ON ICE. 



MOORHEN'S NEST AND EGGS. 



