THE MOOR-HEN. 



THE MOOR-HEN. 



What is that curious little black lump floating down the 

 stream looking like a bit of dubbing from a fly-fisher's 

 book black, red, and blue ? But that it cannot be, as it 

 utters a weak, cheepy cry. Put the binocular upon it, and 

 see, it is a little rumpled feathery mass, with a red and 

 blue head, looking utterly helpless and miserable. It is 

 the young chick of the MOOR-HEN or WATER-HEN (Gallinula 



THE MOOR-HEN. 



chloropus i.e., the greenish-yellow-footed bird) family, 

 Rallidce which has just escaped from the nest, and some- 

 how or other got into the stream, and is drifting away, too 

 weak to resist the running water. The mother, you may 

 be sure, is not far off. Hark ! there is her cry. It sounds, 

 however, far up the stream. She is a ventriloquist ; for, 

 look ! out she comes from the flags opposite and close to 

 her chick, with that peculiar jerk of her tail. If you 

 remain quite still you will see she will get below the little 



