THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



223 



fusion was so great that, although we firedboth 

 barrels, we killed nothing. 



When disturbed, the water-hen dives, or resorts 

 to the shelter of the herbage ; but when hard 

 pressed, it takes to its wings with an ungainly 

 flight, its legs hanging down and neck outstretched. 

 When once fairly on the wing, they can fly for a 

 considerable distance, and at night their notes may 

 be heard in the summer-time, as they fly at a con- 

 siderable height overhead. It is supposed that it 

 is chiefly the males which have this nocturnal 

 habit. The water-hen dives with great facility, 

 and can remain under water for a length of time. 

 It also seeks concealment by sinking in the water 

 until only its beak is visible above the surface, and 

 remains in that position, holding on by some weed 

 or branch, until the danger has passed. 



Instances have been known of its feigning death, 

 after the manner of the corncrake, as a last chance 

 of escape. 



If unmolested, the water-hen will become very 

 tame, and will come and feed with domestic fowls 

 in the farmyard. It rears two or three broods in 

 the year, and it has been observed that the brood 

 first hatched helps to feed and look after the young 

 of the second brood, but as soon as the third brood 

 is hatched the first is sent about its business. If 

 the nest is much exposed, the water-hen will some- 

 times cover it with the leaves of dried flags before 

 he leaves it, but it is not often that this is done, 



