298 THE WATER-HEN. 



seen wandering in the new-shorn grass of a hay-field, easily 

 distinguishable by the white feathers on her wing and vent, 

 and a peculiar jerk or flirting of the tail. But with all her 

 shyness she is nevertheless a tame and sociable bird, and if 

 treated with kindness will show a marked confidence. We 

 have seen Water-hens visiting the lawn of an enclosed garden, 

 and remaining there, notwithstanding the constant intrusion 

 and barking of parlour-dogs, Peacocks, and tame Pheasants ; 

 and, again, not unfrequent intruders in a barn-yard, mixing in 

 a party of poultry. But at the residence of a clergyman near 

 Cheadle, in Staffordshire, a much more striking instance of 

 familiarity has for some years occurred. Adjacent to the lawn 

 there is a moat, on which a pair of Water-hens were observed 

 for several seasons, always, however, leaving it in the spring. 

 By being constantly fed, they in time became quite tame, and 

 at length were induced to breed there from the circumstance 

 of a thorn-bush covered with ivy having fallen into the water, 

 in which they afterwards continued to build their nest. When 

 the young are a few days old, the old ones bring them up close 

 to the drawing-room window, where they are regularly fed with 

 wheat ; and, as the lady of the house pays them the greatest 

 attention, they have learned to look up to her as their natural 

 protectress and friend, so much so, that one bird in particular, 

 which was much persecuted by the rest, would when attacked 

 fly to her for refuge ; and whenever she calls, the whole flock, 

 as tame as barn-door fowls, quit the water and assemble around 

 her to the number of seventeen (November 1833). They have 

 also made other friends in the dogs belonging to the family 

 approaching them without fear, though hurrying off with great 

 alarm on the appearance of a strange dog. The position of the 

 water, together with the familiarity of these birds, has 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 



