466 



THE WATER HEN. 



spots. The shell is rather thick, and the size of the egg large in pro- 

 portion to the dimensions of the bird. 



The upper parts of the body are elegantly mottled with dark black- 

 ish brown, ashen, and warm chestnut, the first tint occupying the centre 

 of each feather, the second the edges, and the third the tips. The wing- 

 coverts are rusty red. The throat and abdomen are white, and the 

 breast is greenish ash, warming into reddish rust striped with white on 

 the sides. In total length the Corncrake is not quite ten inches. 



Our most familiar example of the Gallinules is the Water Hen, 

 sometimes called the Moor Hen. 



This bird may be seen in plenty in every river in England, and mostly 

 on every pond or sheet of water where the reedy or rushy banks offer 



it a refuge. -When start- 

 led it often dives on the 

 instant, and, emerging 

 under floating weeds and 

 rubbish, just pokes its bill 

 above the surface, so that 

 the nostrils are uncovered 

 by the water, and remains 

 submerged until the dan- 

 ger is passed, holding it- 

 self in the proper position 

 by the grasp of its strong 

 toes upon the weeds. 



The nesting of this 

 bird is very peculiar. 

 The Water Hen builds 

 a large edifice of sedges, 



ry „■ 1 i; X sticks, and leaves, either 



Uallmula chloropus). .11 i 1 , 



^ on the bank close to the 



water's edge, upon little reedy islands, or on low banks overhanging 

 the water, and generally very conspicuous. Tli^ mother-bird has a 

 habit of scraping leaves and rushes over her eggs when she leaves 

 the nest— not, as some people fancy, to keep the eggs warm, but to 

 hide them from the prying eyes of crows and magpies, jays, and other 

 egg-devouring birds. 



The young are able to swim almost as soon as hatched, and for some 

 time remain close to their parents. I once, to ray great regret, shot by 

 mistake several young Moor Hens, still in their first suit of black puffy 

 down, and paddling about among the water-lilies and other aquatic 

 herbage where I could not see them. Pike are rather apt' to carry off 

 little creatures by coming quickly under the weeds and jerking 



The Water Hen 



the 



them under the water before they take the alar 



m. 



