in. THE DABCHICKS. 1 49 



naturally shy Feeds out of the hand in a 

 '* day or- two, if fed regularly in confinement. 



8. Nest. " Slight, of leaves and strips of 

 flags," (Gould); "of sedge and grass, rarely 

 found," (Yarrell). Size not told. 



9. Eggs. Eight or nine ! cream-white, with 

 rosy yolk ! ! rather larger than a blackbird's ! ! ! 



10. Brood. Velvet black, with white bills ; 

 hunting with the utmost activity from the 

 minute they are hatched. 



11. Feathers. Brown on the back, a 

 beautiful warm ash grey on the breast, 

 and under the wings transverse stripes of 

 very dark grey and white. The disposition 

 of pattern is almost exactly the same as in 

 the Allegretta. 



12. Uses. By many thought delicious 

 eating. (Bewick.) The fact is, or seems 

 to me, that this entire group of marsh birds 

 is meant to become to us the domestic 

 poultry of marshy land ; and I imagine that 

 by proper irrigation and care, many districts 

 of otherwise useless bog and sand, might be 

 made more profitable to us than many fishing- 

 grounds. 



