A cunning Moorhen 285 



spot. The roots of trees and bushes loosen the soil, and 

 deeper holes are often found under them than elsewhere, to 

 which the fish resort. These hawthorn bushes, though 

 thick and impenetrable above, are more open below just 

 over the water ; and there the kingfisher perches, and has 

 also the advantage of being completely hidden from obser- 

 vation : if he only remained still in such places he would 

 escape notice altogether. When passing such a bush on 

 the qui vive for snipe, how many times have I seen a 

 brilliant streak of azure shoot out from the lower branches 

 and watched a kingfisher skim across the meadow, rising 

 with a piping whistle over the distant hedge ! Near mill- 

 ponds is a favourite place with these birds. 



To that hatch which stands on the effluent brook not 

 far from the mere a coot or two comes now and then at 

 night or in the early morning. These birds, being accused 

 of devouring the young fry, are killed whenever they are 

 met, and their eggs taken in order to prevent their in- 

 crease ; that is, of course, where the water is carefully 

 preserved. Here they are not so persistently hunted. I 

 have seen coots, and moorhens too, venture some distance 

 up the dark arch of a culvert. Moorhens are fond of 

 bridges and frequently feed under them. When alarmed, 

 after diving, the moorhen does not always come right up 

 to the surface, but merely protrudes its head to breathe. 



One day I startled a moorhen in a shallow pond ; 

 instantly the bird dived, and I watched to see where it 

 would come up, knowing that the moorhen cannot stay 

 long under water, while there chanced to be scarcely any 

 bushes or cover round the edge. After waiting some time, 

 and wondering what had become of the bird, I fancied 

 I saw some duckweed slightly agitated. Looking more 

 carefully, it seemed as if there was something very small 



