WATEK-HEN 



183 



at Rathlin O'Birne on the West Coast " (' Migration of 

 Birds at Irish Light Stations,' p. 194). 



Voice. Sometimes the Water-hen utters a harsh, one- 

 syllabled note which sounds like raik-raik-raik. But most 

 of us are more familiar with a pleasing and rather mellow 

 rolling chirrup difficult to represent in syllables, but ending 

 in the vowels i- and 6. The nearest rendering in syllables, 

 that I can attempt is pno-prlo, the consonant r being well 

 rolled. 



FIG. 24. LEFT FOOT OF WATER-HEN, f Nat. size. 



Food. The diet consists of vegetable substances, includ- 

 ing grain, also insects, worms, slugs, and snails. Mr. 

 Saunders accuses the bird of devouring the young of other 

 Water-fowl. 



Nest. The Water-hen builds not only on the ground 

 among tall sedges, but also on the branches of trees and 

 bushes which overhang or skirt the water's edge. The 

 foundation of the nest is generally composed of a mass of 

 dry sedges, on the top of which, and interspersed between, 

 are a number of dead leaves. Where sedges, reeds, and 

 bulrushes are not available, we find this bird building with 



