THE MOCKING-BIRD — THE WATER HEN. 561 



the branches of a pear or apple tree. The nest itself is rather a 

 pleasing specimen of bird architecture, and is mostly built upon a 

 slight foundation of delicate twigs, intermixed with dry weeds of 

 the preceding year. The body of the nest is formed of straw, 

 grass, wool, and vegetable fibres, and the lining is almost wholly 

 composed of very fine fibrous roots. 



Although the bird is so careless about concealing its nest, it is 

 jealously anxious about intruders, and attacks indiscriminately 

 any beast, reptile, or bird that approaches the favored spot. Dogs 

 are forced to run away from the sharp beak and buffeting wings 

 of the angry bird ; the cat finds that the ascent of a tree while a 

 pair of infuriated birds are pecking her nose and blinding her 

 eyes is an impracticable task, and even man himself is attacked 

 by the fearless defenders of the home. 



The worst and most treacherous foe, however, is the black- 

 snake (Coryphodon constrictor), a harmless reptile, but one that is 

 much dreaded by uninstructed pedestrians, because it imitates the 

 manners of the rattlesnake with such fidelity that it is generally 

 reckoned among the poisonous serpents. This snake lives mostly 

 on rats, mice, young birds, and eggs, and in pursuit of the last- 

 mentioned dainties will ascend trees and traverse any branch 

 which holds a nest. 



The very sight of the blacksnake inflames the Mocking-bird 

 with fury, and he instantly darts at it, avoiding its stroke with ad- 

 mirable quickness, and dealing a rapid succession of blows on the 

 reptile's head. The blacksnake is peculiarly vulnerable about 

 the head, and even tries to retreat, but is prevented from escaping 

 by the Mocking-bird, which redoubles his efforts, and easily beats 

 the reptile down. As soon as he sees his advantage, he seizes 

 the snake by the neck, lifts it from the ground, buffets it with his 

 wings, pecks it again as it drops, and ceases not until the hated 

 enemy is left dead on the ground. 



The well-known Water Hen or Moor Hen (Gallinula Chlo- 

 ropus) is nearly, though not quite, as variable in its nesting as the 

 red-winged starling lately described. The nest is always placed 

 near the water, but the bird seems to be very indifferent about 

 the precise locality. 



Sometimes it is made on the ground, and in that case is laid 

 anions; sedges and rushes where the water can not reach it. The 

 Water Hen, however, is not averse to nesting in a warm and com- 



Nn 



