FLOATING NESTS. 35 



are some of them," writes Mr. Hewitson, " that 

 whilst up to the knees in water they afforded me 

 a seat sufficiently strong to support my weight. 

 They are composed of flags and broken reeds, 

 finer towards the inside, and contain from seven 

 to ten eggs, which vary very slightly except in 

 size. That the nest may rise two or three inches 

 with the rising of the water from a flood is quite 

 probable, from the elasticity of the reeds to which 

 it is attached." A coot built her nest in Sir 

 William Middleton's lake at Belsay, Northumber- 

 land, among the rushes, which were afterwards 

 loosened by the wind, and, of course, the nest was 

 driven about and floated upon the surface of the 

 water in every direction ; notwithstanding which 

 the female continued to sit as usual, and brought 

 up her young upon her movable habitation. 



The water-hen, or moor-hen, builds its nest 

 upon the sides of lakes and ponds, and frequently, 

 to its misfortune, close upon the margin of a 

 running stream, or upon an island close to the 

 water. When the level of the water rises the 

 poor bird frequently beholds her nest threatened 

 by the flood; and the rising waters at last too 

 often overwhelm her nest, and sweep its ruins 

 from the spot. A most interesting anecdote is 



