WATER HEN. 275 



but often on a bank or supported by the low branch 

 of a tree. It is a very abundant bird around us on 

 the various streams and tributaries of the Test, and 

 scarcely a year passes without some of our young 

 naturalists finding the nest of this bird at some dis- 

 tance from the ground in a tree ; it is not, it would 

 seem, an uncommon position for it, but it does seem 

 strange that a water bird should choose such an one. 

 The nest is constructed of reeds and flags and coarse 

 grass, and is a large structure. 



The Water Hen, when it is breeding, displays great 

 cunning. I have often, when searching the reeds, 

 heard a splash where some bird has dived, and on 

 searching around the spot have at length discovered 

 the nest several yards away from where the bird 

 entered the water ; seeming as though the bird ran 

 some way along the bank before she made the splash. 

 When alarmed like this they will sometimes remain a 

 long time beneath the surface with only the beak 

 above water to enable them to breathe. Hewitson 

 writes : " I once came very suddenly upon a Water Hen, 

 which dived on my approach ; and whilst I was leaning 

 over a hedge close upon the margin of the brook, 

 wondering that it did not again make its appearance 

 from below, I found that it had approached the surface 

 of the water, and protruding its bill alone to breathe, 

 remained entirely submerged ; it was then very near 

 me, and as long as I remained perfectly still, and that 

 was for some minutes, it did the same ; but the 

 moment I moved and broke the spell, the fascination 

 seemed to paralyse its movements for it watched me 

 intently the whole time it made another rapid somer- 

 set, and rose again some distance down the stream ". 



The eggs of the Water Hen resemble very large 



