588 THE RAILS 



prompt to run to cover on the least alarm. Its food is usually found 

 however, in the water, and consists chiefly of aquatic insects and 

 molluscs, and aquatic weeds, notably duck-weed. It has been 

 accused of adding to this fare the eggs and young of other species 

 of water-fowl, 1 and of game-birds. 2 



Like many other species, the waterhen and its mate pass the 

 breeding season within a limited nesting area, from which they seek 

 to drive not only all intruding individuals of their own species, 

 chiefly, no doubt, their own young of the previous year, but also birds 

 of other species not too large or too numerous to be attacked. 

 Naumann, who had pairs breeding round a pond in his own garden 

 and watched them closely, notes that every spring a certain number 

 were driven away and had to find nesting-places in neighbouring 

 ponds. 3 The cocks left unmated do not always, however, accept 

 defeat as final. Mr. J. L. Bonhote informs me that in one case 

 a mated cock was attacked and slain after the first clutch of eggs had 

 been laid. These were then deserted, and within twenty-four hours 

 the relict of the vanquished was the bride of the victor. 



The waterhen's manner of expressing hostility is to stretch 

 forward the neck and beak in a straight line, and erect the tail, 

 fanning the same so that its white under-feathers stand out with 

 striking brilliancy. This it does both on land and water. When on 

 the latter, it stretches the neck and head along the surface, the red 

 and yellow beak being plainly visible, a fiery little point in the 

 glaucous hue of the water. The tail is not always erected. On one 

 occasion I saw one waterhen, which was making rushes through the 

 water after another, keep its tail bent down flat upon the surface. 

 The pursued bird evidently had no wish to fight, but, curiously enough, 

 carried its tail defiantly erect. When pressed, it would take flight, 

 and, after alighting at a safe distance, would turn round and, with tail 



1 Stevenson, Birds of Norfolk, ii. 411. 



2 Lilford, Birds of Northants, i. 339. See also " Classified Notes." 

 * Vogel Mitteleuropas, vii. 148-9. 



