RED-LETTER DAYS AMONG BIRDS 55 



When I came to reside at Letchworth I was pleased to renew 

 acquaintance with it, and it is nowadays almost constantly 

 within earshot. 



FIG. 19. NEST AND EGGS OP MOORHEN. 



A valued correspondent, whose modesty is such that he does 

 not wish me to disclose his identity, writes as follows : " I 

 thought perhaps a note on the Moorhen might be of interest, 

 particularly as they can be observed so much just now. How 

 seldom one is able to watch the Moorhen attending to her duties 

 of incubation ! I suppose as the nest, eggs, and surroundings 

 harmonise nicely, and are less easily seen than the bird, she 

 considers it safer to glide into the water at the first sight, or sound, 

 of danger, but I wondered if one I saw the other day would do 

 the same, as the nest was in a whitethorn bush several feet above 

 water. On going within a few feet of the nest, I found her sitting, 

 and only on making a still closer inspection did she go off with a 

 nutter and splash, which the bird evidently knew must attract 

 my attention. I have watched a Moorcock feeding his chicks 

 daily, picking little bits off the water and handing (or beaking) 

 it round, but have not once seen the hen bird with them. They 

 are two, or three, weeks old. Would she be nesting again so soon, 

 or does she shirk parental duties ? " 



