354 THE WATER HEN AND THE COOT. 



denly, holding the head and body motionless. After harvest, 

 Mr. W. says, he has shot them before the pointers in turnip 

 fields. When it flies, this bird stretches out its legs straight be- 

 hind like an heron. A Sussex friend, to whom Mr. W. applied 

 for further information respecting the stone curlew, states, " that 

 they live with us all spring and summer, and at the beginning of 

 autumn prepare to depart by getting together in flocks. They 

 seem to me a bird of passage, that may travel into some dry hilly 

 country south of us, probably Spain, because of the abundance 

 of sheep-walks in that country ; for they spend their summers 

 with us in such districts. I believe they are not fond of going 

 near the water, but feed on earth worms, that are common on 

 sheepwalks and downs. There is reason to think, that the old 

 do not feed the young ones, but only lead them about at the time 

 of feeding, which, for the most part, is in the night." 



OF THE WATER-HEN AND THE COOT. 



Before we enter upon water fowls, properly so called, two or 

 three birds claim our attention, which seem to form the shade 

 between the web-footed tribe and those of the crane kind. These 

 partake rather of the form than the habits of the crane ; and, 

 though furnished with long legs and necks, rather swim than 

 wade. They cannot properly be called web-footed; nor yet are 

 they entirely destitute of membranes, which fringe their toes on 

 each side, and adapt them for swimming. The birds in question 

 arc the water-hen and the bald-coot 



