RAILS. 283 



where they were likely to go for food and shelter 

 when their natural haunts were frozen over. 

 When the ice has disappeared, the birds have 

 returned. I have lately discovered, however, that 

 they harbour in thick hedges and bushes, from 

 which they are not easily driven ; aware, pro- 

 bably, that they have no other shelter. They 

 also get into thorn-trees, especially those covered 

 with ivy, and probably feed on the berries, al- 

 though their feet seem but ill-adapted for perching. 

 During a very severe frost, a pair of Water-hens 

 kept almost entirely in a large arbutus-tree on a 

 lawn, which was inclosed by a high paling, and 

 had no pond near it. Here they probably fed 

 on the berries of the tree, and the other produce 

 of the garden." * 



The nest of this bird is composed of dry rushes, 

 grass, or other coarse materials accumulated in 

 considerable quantity among reeds or herbage, 

 near the water's-edge ; sometimes on the low 

 branch of a tree which droops into the stream. 

 In the " Naturalist," a case is recorded in which 

 the nest floated on the water without any attach- 

 ment whatever to the island which it adjoined, 

 but was inclosed 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. 



Curious instances of sagacity, or what one would 

 call presence of mind, in this bird's behaviour 

 when danger threatens her eggs or infant-brood, 

 are on record, from which we select the follow- 

 ing. The charming writer already quoted, Mr. 

 * Gleanings, p. 303. 



