MOOR-HEN, WATER-HEN. 415 



niously arched over with the young reeds as if to conceal 

 the eggs, whilst others are almost carelessly exposed to 

 view ; and at times a pretty contrast in colour is shown 

 when both green and withered leaves have been woven 

 into the structure.* Many as are the dangers to which 

 the young are exposed from four-footed vermin, pike, 

 and I suspect eels as well, one ceases to wonder at the 

 abundance of this species, when from five to ten eggs 

 constitute a sitting, and when, if undisturbed, as many 

 as three broods are reared in a season; occasionally, 

 no doubt, two birds will lay in one nest, but on 

 examining several on the same day in spring, I 

 have been much struck with the variation both in 

 number and size of the eggs laid, in some nests 

 perhaps only four or five eggs, but those hard sat upon. 

 The young in their black down, as depicted in Mr. 

 Gould's plate in his "Birds of Great Britain," are 

 most beautiful little objects, with their bright but 

 evanescent tints about the head and bill, and there 

 are few prettier sights in summer than a family group 

 disporting themselves amongst the broad leaves of the 

 white and yellow water lilies, or snatching their insect 

 food from the delicate blossoms of the water ranunculus. 

 Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear state that they have 

 observed nestlings when only a few days old, " running 

 about upon the tops of the weeds, and picking insects 

 from them," but that a pair hatched off under a hen, by 

 Mr. Youell, of Yarmouth, took their food " from the bill 

 of their-foster mother, and it was not until they were 

 several weeks old that they attempted to pick food 

 from the ground." 



* The Kev. J. G. Atkinson, in bis " Sketches in Natural 

 History" (p. 42), describes a nest of this species which was lined 

 with the last year's oak leaves, " regularly arranged all round and 

 their points directed upwards." Bishop Stanley also mentions one 

 which was built near a garden, and surrounded, as if for effect 

 alone, by a brilliant wreath of scarlet anemones. 



