MOOR-HEN. 131 



short flight, with their legs hanging down, and will occa- 

 sionally perch in a tree; they are, however, capable ^of 

 more extended exertion on the wing, but appear to prefer 

 the security afforded by thick rushes. 



Shen stone refers to the hiding habits of the Coot and 

 Moor-hen in the following lines : 



" to lurk the lake beside 



Where Coots in rushy dingles hide, 

 And Moorcocks shun the day." 



The nest is generally placed among reeds on the ground ; 

 sometimes among stumps, roots, or long grass, on a bank at 

 the edge of the water ; and the bird has been known to 

 fix its nest on a branch of a tree which rested upon the 

 surface of deep still water. Another built her nest in the 

 branch of a fir-tree which overhung a river, a few feet 

 above the water, and was seen to fly down with two of 

 her young brood, one in each foot, from the nest. The 

 editor of the Naturalist mentions an instance where " the 

 nest of a Moor-hen floated on the water without having 

 any attachment whatever with the islet which it adjoined; 

 but was enclosed on all sides by sticks, &c. Thus situated, 

 the careful parents hatched their eggs in perfect safety ; 

 though, had the water risen to an unusual height, the case 

 might have been otherwise." 



Rusticus of Godalming, in the fifth volume of the Maga- 

 zine of Natural History, says, " The piece of water called 

 Old Pond, about one mile from Godalming, on the London 

 road, is a most attractive spot to waterfowl; and an 

 island in its centre is the resort of some of them in the 

 breeding-season, and also a variety of other birds, which 

 find it a safe and unmolested place for the same purpose. 

 I have often delighted, in years that are gone, to visit this 

 island and its inmates : the owner, Robert Moline, Esq., used 

 to allow us free ingress to all and every part of the estate ; 



K 2 



