WHEN MARCH WINDS BLOW. 137 



in your hand. The scarlet shield above the base 

 of the bill, and his brightly tinted legs and feet, 

 claim attention, if he is only a moor-hen. To 

 casual observers these birds would only appear to 

 be aimlessly picking, poking, and clucking about; 

 but this is a mere ruse on their part, in reality 

 they are looking out a spot for their nest. The 

 pair that claim our attention just now had a nest 

 in that particular sedge-bed last year, and they 

 intend to have one there again, if all goes well, 

 this year. 



About the water-rail, just before breeding-time, 

 I have a few words to say. A more hideling 

 feathered creature than he is at other times you 

 could not meet with ; but just before the actual 

 time for nesting comes round he actually swaggers. 

 Whether it is because he has nothing to fear from 

 pike just now, I cannot say; but there is the bird 

 daintily walking along the edge of the reeds and 

 sedges, flirting his tail, picking and poking, running 

 nimbly hither and thither, then standing still to flirt 

 his tail again, and go on as before. 



Water-rails are fairly numerous in the river- 

 tangle on the Mole, in fact, I have seen more 



