308 LAKES AND STREAMS 



in a straight line, and at a considerable height. Along the north coast of the 

 Mediterranean the ponds are literally crowded with these birds in winter. In 

 March and April they return to central Europe, where they appear in great 

 numbers, some to stay, and others to go farther north, some of them ranging 

 into Iceland. Eastward, the coot has been traced into China, and has even been 

 found nesting in Kashmir. In addition to its lobed toes and green legs, it may be 

 recognised by the broad white shield on its forehead and the red eyes. The plumage 

 is grey below and black above with a narrow white wing-bar, the beak being flesh- 

 coloured with a white tip: the total length of the bird is over 15 inches. 



The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) does not frequent such large 

 sheets of water as the coot, and, unlike the latter, is often found on 

 running streams. In some localities it is more appropriately known as the water- 

 hen, a much better name, as it is no bird of the moor but of the mire, that is the 

 marsh, the modern spelling being a corrupt rendering of mire-hen. By no means 

 a shy bird, it will frequently come ashore to be fed, and it walks lightly with 

 striding steps, its legs being rather long, and green and yellow in colour with a red 

 garter. As it walks it flirts its tail ; as it swims it nods its head ; and when diving 

 it works both legs and wings. From the length of its toes the moorhen can walk 

 on the foliage of plants over considerable spaces of still water. When startled it 

 dives and if possible emerges under floating leaves, protruding its beak above the 

 surface and keeping its body submerged until danger is passed, holding itself in 

 position by tightly clasping the plant-stems with its feet, which are but very 

 slightly lobed. It flies low with legs dangling, and seems to rise from the water 

 with much effort, but once on the wing it traverses long distances at a stretch 

 particularly at night, when, as it passes quickly overhead, its peculiar call is clearly 

 distinguishable. It builds its nest generally on the ground, sometimes afloat, and 

 exceptionally 20 feet or more up a tree. The nest itself is a mass of bulrushes 

 and reeds, lined with sedge and grass, and contains some time in May or June 

 about ten eggs, of a pale brown spotted with brownish red. The young birds 

 are hatched in three weeks, and follow their parents with greedy eyes, continuallj' 

 expecting food to be put in their hungry mouths. Later on they take part in 

 the bringing up of a second brood. The food consists of water-insects and their 

 larva?, as well as worms and seeds. The young frequently fall victims to pike. 

 They are much browner than their parents and do not assume their adult 

 plumage until the following spring. The moorhen is distributed over a large 

 area, reaching to central Sweden in the north, and as far south as Cape Colony, 

 and is generally a resident in the British Isles and the northern half of its 

 range, with a partial southerly migration in severe winters. In length it is 

 about 12 inches, and in colour greenish above and greyish below; the outer wing- 

 feathers and first primary are edged with white, while the sides are streaked 

 with white, as are the under tail-coverts ; the beak is red tipped with green and 

 there is a red frontal shield. 

 „ , The spotted crake (Porzana maruetta) is another but less 



Spotted Cra.lte. _ . 



familiar frequenter of marshes and the shores of ponds and larger 

 pieces of water bordered by an abundance of reeds, flags, and other aquatic plants. 

 Only during migration, in April and September, is it found in forests or fields. 



