88 MOOR-HE]*. 



would, when attacked, fly to her for refuge; and whenever she 

 calls, the whole flock, as tame as barn-door fowls, quit the 

 water and assemble around her, to the number of seventeen. 

 (November, 1833.) 



They have also made other friends in the dogs belonging 

 to the family, approaching them without fear, but hurrying 

 off in great alarm on the appearance of any strange dog. 

 The position of the water, together with the familiarity of 

 these birds, have afforded many interesting particulars respecting 

 their habits.' 



They increase in numbers very rapidly, as will appear only 

 natural from the account to be presently given of the number 

 of broods produced in the year. The old birds, nevertheless, 

 are very combative among themselves, and extremely tenacious 

 of their territorial rights. If protected they will keep long 

 to the same situation. They are excellent eating. 



If they have not oftener been known to come to doors, to 

 forage with fowls, it is only because they have met with 

 discouragement instead of the contrary. In gardens they 

 will do, it must be allowed, considerable damage sometimes 

 both to fruit and vegetables. 



These birds have the power of submerging their bodies 

 beneath the water, while only the bill, or little more than 

 the bill, is kept above it. This has been conclusively proved 

 by W. H. Slaney, Esq., of Hatton Hall, Shropshire, in the 

 'Zoologist.' They have also been known, when pursued, to 

 dive to the bottom and remain there till almost dead, sooner 

 than be taken. I remember once hooking one accidentally 

 when fly-fishing, as it was swimming from one side of the 

 brook to the other. They take part of their food also below 

 the surface, as is proved by their having been captured by 

 means of baits set for fish 'the thief caught with the 

 mainour.' The one just mentioned was, I think, diving at 

 the time. They spend most of their life in the water. 



The late Bishop of Norwich records the following very 

 curious instance of apparent reasoning power in one of these 

 birds: 'But it is not only in their instinctive attachments 

 and habits that they merit notice. The following anecdote 

 proves that they are gifted with a sense of observation ap- 

 proaching to something very like reasoning faculties: At a 

 gentleman's house in Staffordshire, the Pheasants are fed out 

 of one of those boxes described in page 308, the lid of 

 which rises with the pressure of the Pheasant standing on 



