542 



THE NATURE BOOK 



ally met with by dav in the near neigh- Moorhens are practically vegetarians, and 



bourhood of water, the Moorhen tra\-els as they are very partial to grain, soon 



some distance awav from it at night. It become accustomed to maize in coverts 



makes its passage well up in the air. and where pheasants are fed. They will 



■ ■ ■ ' " -provides frequently rest in trees during the day, 



its Ihght-note — " thuck, thuck 



COOT AND YOUNG. 



Photograph by j. AikimoHt Lcttis. 



a frequent puzzle to those who Usten to 

 the night sounds of Nature. Moorhens 

 are very early breeders, and are very 

 easy and amusing to watch after the 

 young are hatched. They are double 

 brooded, and a curious point in their 

 domestic economy is the fact that the 

 first clutch assists in the rearing of the 

 second brood. A second nest or half 

 nest is also sometimes built for a ju\'enile 

 resting and drying place after the cradle 

 in whirh they were hatched is deserted 

 by the young birds. Though as a general 

 rule Moorhens build a floating nest an- 

 chored to aquatic vegetation, a dry site 

 is sometimes selected, and that at some 

 height abo\-e water level ; but, as far as 

 my own obserx-ation serves, always in 

 trees or bushes which overhang the water. 



those that are evergreen or ivy-clad for 

 choice. 



Like the Rails, the Moorhen is averse to 

 using its wings, and can make rapid 

 progress on foot ; it swims well, and is 

 an expert diver, though it never remains 

 long under water, or, rather, entirely sub- 

 merged ; for when one is seen to dive, if 

 a careful watch be kept for a few j'ards 

 around, the point of the beak protruded 

 above water le\-el beyond the nostrils 

 may be discovered whilst the Waterhen, 

 chnging with its very prehensile claws to 

 the water- weeds, takes wind for a further 

 submersion. When walking or swimming 

 the Moorhen may be distinguished from 

 the Coot not only by its smaller size, but 

 also by its constant habit of head- bobbing 

 as well as tail- jerking. 



