THE WATERHEN 593 



incubated for nearly three weeks by both parents. It has been 

 stated by Seebohm that, on leaving the nest, the waterhen usually 

 covers the eggs with some of the lining. I can find, however, no 

 proof that the eggs are ever more than partially covered. Mr. C. B. 

 Moffat, for instance, on several occasions saw a waterhen, before 

 quitting the nest on his approach, draw an oak leaf over the central 

 egg of seven, concealing it completely, the others partially. 1 The 

 protective coloration of the eggs probably render covering by leaves 

 unnecessary. 2 



The chicks are pretty little dusky balls of down. They are out 

 of the nest and into the water when about a day old. They swim 

 at once and instinctively, and clamber off and on to the nest, using 

 their wings to aid them. They have been described by Prof. Lloyd 

 Morgan, who kept chicks of this species in captivity, as climbing in 

 "a peculiar alternating hand-over-hand fashion, which is also seen 

 in young dabchicks and in the South American hoatzin (Opisthocojmts 

 cristatus)." He noted that they have the thumb or bastard-wing 

 provided with a small claw, but it is not clear that it is of much use 

 in climbing. 3 The little hoatzin has two claws on each wing, and 

 undoubtedly uses them to help it in climbing in and out of the nest 

 into the tree twigs. Such claws are found in the young of other 

 species, but in none except the hoatzin does it appear to be 

 functional. 4 



The little waterhens are fed by both parents until these become 

 occupied with the preparations for their second brood, when they 

 are left to their own devices. They may be seen seeking food by 

 themselves, both on land and water, and sometimes on the floating 

 water-plants, over which, like their parents (PI. 135), they can run 



1 Ussher and Warren, Birds of Ireland, p. 243 ; Zoologist, 1899, p. 82. 



'The same applies to the coot's egg. The Rev. M. C. H. Bird and Alfred Nudd of Hickling 

 once put grebes' eggs into a coot's nest, and they were sucked by crows within two days. As 

 the grebe is in the habit of covering its eggs, when leaving the nest, the significance of 

 this fact is obvious. 



3 Habit and Instinct, p. 60. 



4 According to the Rev. M. C. H. Bird (in litt.\ both the adult moorhen and the coot have 

 the claw, but straight, not hooked. 



