The Waterhen. 89 



for a time to running streams and tidal rivers. By 

 nature the Waterhen is very shy and unobtrusive, 

 and although it often becomes semi-domesticated 

 on a piece of water near a house, and will even feed 

 with tame ducks when corn is thrown down, never- 

 theless it always appears to distrust human beings, 

 and never quite loses its native shyness. Owing, 

 perhaps, to this shy nature, we seldom hear the bird 

 make any sound in the day-time, but when the sun 

 has set and the soft twilight reigns, its loud call- 

 note " crek-rek-rek " may be heard repeatedly. 



The Waterhen chooses very varied situations in 

 which to build its nest. A clump of reeds or rushes 

 is the favourite position, but the branches of a tree, 

 which overhang and touch the water, are often used 

 to support the nest a very precarious position, since 

 any rising in the stream would swamp the nest. 

 Sometimes it may be found in a branch of a tree ten 

 or twelve feet from the ground, and at others, on the 

 top of some mass of debris at the side of a pond. 



But wherever the nest may be placed, its owner 

 makes no attempt to conceal it, although on leaving 

 the eggs it will often cover them over with debris, in 

 the hope that they will not be discovered. 



The nest is built of dead reeds and rushes, with 

 some finer material, such as broken pieces of reeds, 

 at the top. Although the shape of the nest is 



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