
VOL. XI.] NOTES ON THE MOOR-HEN. 171 
but it looked to me as if cock fought with cock and hen with 
‘hen. I watched the bigger one swim down the pond after a 
large stranger, which swam away as hard as it could go, 
whereupon the pursuer, half swimming, half flying, increased 
his speed, and drove the other out at the end of the pool, 
over the railings, and into the meadow. Here the stranger 
turned upon No. 1: for a moment they faced each other with 
extended necks, exactly—except that they had no hackles 
to stand on end—like two game-cocks, then they sprang into 
the air, only to drop back into their respective positions, 
whence they menaced each other again; once more they 
sparred, when suddenly No. 2 turned tail and ran. But he was 
not really running away ; with his determined foe close on his 
heels he ran in a circle, fled over the railings, and was back 
inthe pond. Here he swung round, faced the other Moor-Hen, 
and ‘‘ hammer and tongs” they went at it once more. The 
_ water splashed as they bounced up and down, clawing at 
each other with their feet, and sometimes rolling right over. 
At last No. 2 broke away and fled across the meadow. The 
victor flew some way after him, but alighted when he saw that 
the invader had really gone, and came running back, calling 
loudly to his mate, who had been quite as busily employed 
with the strange hen. The latter had just beaten a retreat 
after her vanquished husband. The pair met with extended 
necks, and strutted round each other with drooping wings 
and tails spread fan-ways, but before the display was finished 
they caught sight of the second of the invading pairs. There 
was another furious fight, and when at last they were driven 
away the other pair had come back! But the Moor-Hens to 
whom the pond belonged seemed untirable; they fought on, 
racing and chasing, nearly all day, and finally vindicated their 
right to the pool. 
Watching these duels convinced me that “right ”’ as well 
as “might” had a good deal to do with the result, for the 
invading birds did not fight with half the determination of 
the Moor-Hens that were in possession. Several times I saw 
strange birds approaching the pond, and the stealthy, not to 
‘say sneaking, manner in which they crept along had a decidedly 
guilty look—they appeared to know that they were doing 
wrong. 
So far as I could see and judge, hen always fought with hen 
and cock with cock, though I saw the hen help her mate in 
driving off a single stranger, but he did not appreciate the 
help, turning upon her, pecking her, and driving her back to 
the neighbourhood of the nest. 
The weather has a retarding or accelerating effect on the 
‘preparations for nesting. In 1916 [found twonests begun on 
