30 THE dog; and how to 1511EAK HIM. 



fringed with sedges, or cover of some descrip- 

 tion ; and will, upon being disturbed, be as likely 

 to dive as to fly. Even should it take wdng 

 its flight is ne^er a long one, and is generally 

 directed to some known pond, if there be any 

 near. When the bird has dived, it will not 

 .attempt to fly ; indeed it is questionable whether 

 it is a])le to do so for some time after it has been 

 under water, but Avill remain amongst the sedges 

 at the side, or sometimes the middle of the water, 

 with only its beak as far as the nostrils above the 

 surface. The breath of the bird will of course be 

 scented by the dogs as they are hunting amongst 

 the sedges ; but on their approach the moor -hen 

 will dive again, and continue to do so until it is 

 captured. Continued exertion soon tires the object 

 of pursuit, and each succeeding time its stay 

 beneath the surface of the water is less prolonged; 

 and being at length too much fatigued to dive 

 with sutncient celerity to avoid its enemies, it is 

 <iaught. The moor-hen, wdien cooked in a similar 

 manner to a duck, is not a bad dish. 



Hunting the moor-hen is but a tedious, slow 

 diversion ; Init if the gun be called into requisi- 

 tion the bird is easily shot as it skims across the 

 surface of the pond, and a few hours may be spent 

 in a day, at the latter end of July, in this way, 

 when no other shooting is to be had. 



In addition to beins; headstrong and unrn.ly, as 



