THE W A T E R-H E N V 109 



f>ut IS contented to make its nefl. on the banks of rivers, in fuch (ituations 

 as not to be afFecfted by the rifing of the dream. When it has found a 

 place for its purpofe, it hollows out with its bill a hole about a yard deep ; 

 or if it finds the dcferted hole of a rat, or one caufed by the root of a tree 

 decaying, it takes quiet pofiefTion. This hole it enlarges at the bottom to 

 a good fize, lining it with the down of the willow, and partly clofing the 

 opening. Here are found great quantities of bones and fcales of fifties, 

 the remains of the bird's food. The king-fiftier, as Belon fays, feeds 

 upon fifh, but is incapable of digefling the bones and fcales, which he 

 throws up again, as eagles and owls are feen to do a part of their prey j but 

 this is not confirmed by fome late obfervers, though its fecms probable. 

 In thefe holes, which from fuch remains are very foetid, the king-fiflier is 

 often found with five eggs to nine. There the female continues to hatch, 

 even though difturbed ; and though the neft be robbed, Ihe will again 

 return and lay there. She begins to lay early in the feafon, and ex- 

 cludes her firft brood about the beginning of April. The male brings her 

 large provifions of fifh while thus employed; and, contrary to moft other 

 birds, fhe is found plump and fat at that feafon. The male, that ufed to 

 twitter before this, now enters the nell as quietly and as privately as pof- 

 fible. The young ones are hatched at the expiration of twenty days ; 

 but are feen to differ as well in their fize as beauty. Thefe birds arc 

 not numerous ; there are twenty fpccies in the tropical climates of the old 

 world, and feven or eight in the new. 



THE WATER-HEN. 



THE Water-hen is rather comprelTed on the fides of her bodyj the 

 bill fomewhat approaches the cock kind, but fhorterj the fore- 

 head bare of feathers, and covered with a thick brick-coloured membrane, 

 (as are fome fpecies of rails): flies with her feet hanging; has long toes, 

 with a membranous border round them; legs long; thighs partly barej 

 wings fhort. 



Relides entirely where her food lies ; and never leaves the pond 

 or river in which fhe feeds, along the eraffy banks, and often along 

 the furface of the water; does not fwim far or much; but hides among 

 the water weeds, and roots of aquatic trees, and only quits them in the 

 evening, firft covering her eggs, when hatching, with rufhes and graft ; (he 

 hides her neft very fuccefsfully, as alfo her youn», which arc rarely taken. 

 She builds her neft on low trees and ftirubs, of fticks and fibres, by the 



T 2 water 



