594 THE RAILS 



with ease. The young of the first brood do not, however, quit the 

 nesting area. They rest and roost either on the old nest l or on one 

 of the supernumerary structures, which, as above noted, they may 

 assist in building. They are said also to assist in building the nest 

 for the second brood. 2 They are still at hand when the second brood 

 is hatched, and may frequently be seen aiding their parents to feed 

 their little brothers and sisters. At a later date, about the middle 

 of September, all the young have been driven from the nesting area 

 by their parents. 3 



According to a record in the Zoologist, 1866, the first brood may 

 be driven away earlier. The following are the dates given : 



Second brood hatched, 20th May. 

 First brood driven away, 20th June. 

 Third brood hatched, 15th July. 



The young are preyed upon by four-footed vermin and by pike. 

 An instance is given in the Field of 1906 (vol. cvii. p. 994) of a newly 

 hatched chick of a waterhen being found in the inside of a 

 H lb. trout! The old birds suffer both from four-footed enemies, 

 notably the fox, and from hawks. The peregrine has frequently been 

 seen to pick them up either from or close to the ground. 4 Their eggs 

 are frequently taken, chiefly by human robbers. 



The waterhen's method of escape varies according to circum- 

 stances, and no doubt also according to the character and passing 

 mood of the individual bird. If alarmed when on the water near 

 cover, it will naturally swim into cover and remain concealed. If on 

 or close to the water some way from cover, its usual habit is to fly to 

 cover. If feeding in a field or meadow at a little distance from water, 

 it will usually run to the water, and then swim off or take flight 

 according to circumstances. From its nest it appears, as a rule, 



1 E. Selous, Bird-life Glimpses, p. 278. 



2 Lilford, op. tit., i. 339; Stevenson, op. tit., ii. 416. 



3 J. L. Bonhote, in litt. 



4 Lilford, Birds of Northants, i. 339. 



