THE WATER HEN. » 343 



weeds and other debris that have floated down the stream and 

 been arrested by the branch. 



The simihtude is increased by a curious habit of the bird. 

 VVhen she leaves her nest, she pulls over her eggs a quantity of 

 the same substances as those which form the materials of the 

 nest, so that they are completely hidden from sight, and the 

 form of the nest is quite obscured. It is true that the nest is not 

 unfrequently found with the eggs exposed, but this apparent' 

 negligence is always caused by the frightened bird dashing off 

 at the approach of the intruder, and having no time to cover 

 her eggs properly. The object of covering the eggs was once 

 thought to be the retention of heat, the neighbourhood of water 

 being imagined to be injurious. As, however, many birds build 

 as close to the water as does the Water Hen, and do not covei 

 the eggs, it is evident that concealment and not warmth is the 

 object to be attained. 



I may mention that the illustration was sketched from a nest 

 before it was removed, and that most of the nests have been 

 drawn in the same manner from actual objects. 



The eggs are many in number, seldom less than six, and 

 often eight, and their united weight is far from inconsiderable, 

 as they are fully proportioned to the size of the bird. The 

 young are the oddest little beings imaginable, looking like 

 spherical puffs of black down, rather than birds. They take 

 to the water at once, and if the reader can manage to watch 

 the mother and her little family,, he will see one of the quaintest 

 and prettiest groups that our country can supply. The little 

 black balls swim about quite at their ease, keeping within a 

 short distance of their parent, and traversing the water with a 

 rapidity that reminds the observer of the gyrini, or whirligig 

 beetles. In spite of the prolific nature of the bird, it is not so 

 numerous as it might be, having many enemies in its youth, 

 the worst of which is the pike, which comes up silently from 

 below, opens its terrible jaws, and absorbs the unsuspecting 

 bird. 



