172 BRITISH BIRDS. * [VG ek. 
March 20th, but it was April 15th of the following spring before 
I saw any signs of material being gathered. The behaviour 
of the two birds which I kept under the closest observation 
was noteworthy, for they had become quite tame during the 
winter, but the minute they had chosen their nesting-site 
(which was the identical bough of a weeping willow on which 
there had been a nest the previous season) they became ex- 
ceedingly shy, diving and swimming away under water when- 
ever any one went near. I put up a tent to try and get some 
photographs of the nest-building, and from its shelter was 
able to watch them more effectively. The hen stopped near 
the scanty platform of twigs and rushes which at this stage 
represented the nest, seldom going thirty yards away from it, 
but the cock spent most of his time out in the meadow, an 
nouncing his return by a loud cry, when he would swim past 
the hen—which invariably hurried to meet him—bowing and 
spreading his tail, and swim on in front of her to the nest. 
He usually stepped on to it, rearranged one or two of the bits, 
while his mate watched, then slipped off, and swam away 
about his business. I did not see the nest used for any more 
decided form of courtship than this, conjugal attentions 
taking place on the bank of the pond. As a rule the hen 
stayed near the nest, but twice I saw her swim forty yards 
or so to meet her mate, but he evidently disapproved of her 
coming so far from home, for he chased her back with pecks. 
As time went on she became more actively interested in the 
nest, arranging and rearranging the materials, which as yet 
were scanty. One morning, while thus engaged, two~‘ Call ”’ 
ducks came near and, balancing on their heads, began to 
feed just in front of the nest. The Moor-Hen fluffed out her 
feathers indignantly, and, leaning forward, caught hold of one 
drake by his curly tail-feathers, and gave him a sharp tug! 
He came “right side up” immediately, and swam away 
with a startled look. 
The first egg was laid on April 29th, and incubation began — 
on May 3rd, two eggs being laid subsequently. It appears 
to be the rule for Moor-Hens to begin to sit before the clutch 
is complete (in this district it is generally seven in number) 
as all those I have watched have done so, and in at least one- 
case the bird began to sit when the third egg was laid, though 
she subsequently laid four more. This accounts for the 
erratic manner in which the chicks often hatch. There is_ 
frequently a week, and sometimes more, between the eldest 
and the youngest, and they will differ in size as much as the 
young of the Tawny Owl. The most curious case of which 
[have notes was that of a nest found with two eggs in it on 
June Ist. By the 6th there were seven eggs. Ten days 
