v. 



THE WATER-HEN. 32? 



position of the water, together with the familiarity of 

 these birds, have afforded many interesting particulars 

 respecting their habits. They have three broods in a 

 season the first early in April; and they begin to lay 

 again when the first hatch is about a fortnight old. They 

 lay eight or nine eggs, and sit about three weeks, the 

 cock alternately with the hen. The nest in the thorn- 

 bush is placed usually so high above the surface of the 

 water, that when the young are first hatched and have 

 quitted it, they cannot climb into it again ; but as a sub- 

 stitute, within an hour after they leave the nest, the 

 cock bird builds a larger and more roomy nest for them, 

 with sedges, at the water's edge, which they can enter 

 or retire from at pleasure. For about a month they are 

 fed by the old birds, but soon become very active in 

 taking flies and water-insects. Immediately on the 

 second hatch coming out, the young ones of the first 

 hatch assist the old ones in feeding and hovering over 

 them, leading them out in detached parties, and making 

 additional nests for them, similar to their own, on the 

 brink of the moat. 



On the appearance of the third brood, the old ones 

 invariably drive the first away to a neighbouring pond, 

 where they remain till September, when the last hatch 

 is about half-grown. About this time a fresh party of 

 birds makes its appearance, which from their tameness 

 is, no doubt, composed of broods formerly bred there ; 

 and in the moat the united families remain till the fol- 

 lowing Spring, when the original pair drive all the rest 

 away, but not without many severe and curious contests 

 frequently in the water, when they throw themselves on 

 their rumps, and strike at each other with their feet. 

 When either of the combatants^ begins to find himself 

 worsted, he dives, and does not reappear, thus eluding 

 his adversary, by hiding his whole body under water, and 

 merely exposing his beak for respiration. 



During the breeding season, they are constantly adding 

 materials to their nest, making sad havoc in the flower- 



