THE MOOR, OR WATER HEN. 127 



green) ; the back is very dark brown, approaching to 

 black, but bearing (especially in spring) a tinge of olive. 

 The tail is short and rounded ; the under tail-coverts are 

 white, which, with a few white feathers upon the wings, 

 and sometimes upon the thighs, are very perceptible when 

 the bird takes night. There is little difference in the 

 female's plumage, except that she has not so much red 

 upon the bill. 



The legs of these birds are green, with a sort of red 

 garter above their knees, which is less bright in the 

 female. The young are clothed in a black down, and their 

 plumage at first appears almost black. 



The food of these birds consists of certain food that may 

 be found upon or near the waters they frequent. They 

 may be often seen swimming along, feeding, with a nod- 

 ding motion of the head, first on one side and then on the 

 other, upon the vegetable substances floating upon the 

 water, though their general food is aquatic plants and small 

 fishes, or insects, worms, and slugs, for which latter they 

 will leave the river and search the neighbouring meadows. 



Although somewhat loudly uttered, the only note pos- 

 sessed by the bird is a sort of chirping cry, or rather " call 

 note." That of the young, also, sounds like a chirp, or 

 may be described as " chip-chip." 



Moor-hens build their nests generally amid the flags, 

 reeds, and rushes that border their rivers, streams, &c. ; yet 

 they will build upon the banks, and again suspended upon 

 the reeds at very various heights a large nest, loosely con- 

 structed of reeds, flags, and smaller reeds and grasses, and 

 built in a flat, open manner, so that it is almost possible 

 from a high overhanging bank to see its contents; yet a 

 Moor-hen can seldom be found sitting upon her nest, as she 



