82 VARIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



running up from the breast to the ear coverts ; sides grey ;* 

 vent and under tail coverts black ; legs and toes blackish 

 brown ; length from tw^enty-six to twenty-eight inches. The 

 female has the head reddish brown ; neck pale brown, both 

 being speckled with very dark brown; upper parts dark 

 brown, each feather being black in the centre with a pale 

 brown edge ; under surface of a pale brown, as in the case of 

 many other ducks. In July the male assumes the same 

 plumage as the female, but recovers his masculine colours in 

 the autumnal moult. The length of tail will always serve to 

 distinguish this duck from the widgeon, whose plumage it 

 resembles in other respects. The flavour for the table is- 

 excellent, and the bird bears a high price in the poulterers' 

 shops. 



The MOORHEN or GALLINULE (Gfallinula cliloropus) is very 

 commonly met with in our rivers and ponds, where it 

 swims gracefully, searching for aquatic insects, and nodding 

 its head at every instant. It dives remarkably well and 

 quickly, and remains in the reeds with only its beak above 

 the water. On account of its diving so rapidly, it is rarely 

 bagged without the aid of a dog, as it does not rise to the 

 surface if death takes place under the water. On land it runs 

 rapidly, cocking up the feathers of its tail, which are white 

 beneath, and seeking the secure retreats afforded by the 

 water as rapidly as possible. Its nest is built among the 

 sedge, and it lays seven or eight eggs of a yellow colour with 

 brown spots. The young birds appear only like a brownish 

 black mass of fur or down, and swim about in the most lively 

 manner. In the male the beak is yellowish green, with a 

 red base ; on the forehead is a naked patch of red ; iris hazel ; 

 back, wings, rump, and tail dark olive brown ; head, neck, 

 breast, and sides dark slate j belly and vent greyish white; 

 above the tarsus a ring of red ; legs and toes green. 



The WATER-RAIL (Rallus aquaticus) resembles the moor- 

 hen in general figure, though differing in colour, which is more 

 like that of the land-rail. The back is spotted or speckled 

 brown ; cheeks, chin, sides, and front of neck and breast lead 

 grey ; vent buff colour ; legs and toes brownish red ; length 

 eleven inches and a half. 



The GREBES (Podiceps cristatus, P. auritus, and P. 



