288 HABITS OF THE YOUNG. [CHAP. iv. 



observations that have been kindly supplied from another 

 quarter : 



" June, 1845. I picked up a young Water Hen some 

 time since, that had just escaped from the egg, and was 

 swimming off across the river. I placed it with some 

 lately-hatched chickens, to which it soon grew accus- 

 tomed, though rather complaining and unhappy at first. 

 It would eat bread and any odd scraps very eagerly, 

 and throve well till about half grown, when T lost it 

 one day, and suppose some vermin must have carried it 

 away, as it showed not the least inclination to run away 

 from its friends the chickens. * * 



"Watching an old Water Hen swimming in the river 

 the other day, I was much pleased with her tenderness 

 and solicitude for her young ones, calling and collect- 

 ing them round her, and feeding them. On one occa- 

 sion, one of the brood, a weakly chick, was unable to 

 swim across the river to the mother : she immediately 

 returned, and took it over on her back, with a little soft 

 complacent note, as if she was pleased it was in safety. 

 It is singular that although in the early spring, and 

 throughout the breeding time, Water Hens are so 

 abundant on our river, yet after that time has passed 

 by, we see but few until the autumn has set in. Where 

 they go I know not, or whether it is that they conceal 

 themselves at that time, the time, perhaps, of their 

 moulting." H. H. 



As we do not propose recurring to this family of 

 birds, we will take this opportunity of calling the atten- 

 tion of naturalists to a probably unknown member of it, 

 which has hitherto preserved its incognito, and for a 

 notice of which we are indebted to the friendship of the 

 same accurate observer of nature. 



"December, 1844. I am convinced that there are 



