THE CHINESE JACANA, OR MEEWA. 



709 



from one end of the lake to the other, a distance of half or three-quarters of a mile ; but 

 generally they merely rise above the surface of the water and fly off for about a hundred 

 yards. During flight their long legs are thrown out horizontally to their full length. 

 While feeding, they utter a slowly repeated ' cluck, cluck.' The stomach is extremely 

 niu-scular, and the food consists of aquatic insects and some kind of vegetable matter." 



The general colour of the Common Jacana is black, with a slight greenish gloss, taking 

 a rusty red tinting on the back and wing-coverts. The primary quill-feathers of the wing 

 are green, and the wings are 

 furnished at the bend with long 

 and sharp claws. In the African 

 species these spurs are hardly per- 

 ceptible. At the base of the beak 

 is a curious leathery appendage, 

 rising upon the forehead above 

 and depending towards the chin 

 below. The claws are all very 

 long, especially that of the hind 

 toe, which is nearly straight, and 

 longer than the toe from which it 

 proceeds. 



The pretty Chinese JACAi\^A 

 well deserves the title of Hydro- 

 phasicinus, or Water Pheasant, a 

 name which has been given to it 

 on account of the two long tail- 

 feathers which droop gracefully in 

 a gentle curve. The quill-feathers 

 of the wings are also remarkable 

 for certain little appendages, like 

 hairy plumes, which proceed from 

 the tip of each shaft. 



The Chinese Jacana, or 

 Meewa, is not confined to the 

 country from which it derives its 

 popular name, but is found in 

 various parts of Asia, and has 

 been obtained from the Himalayas 

 and the Philippines. 



It is a very active bird on 

 foot or in the water, swimming 

 with easy grace, and traversing 

 the floating herbage in search of 

 its food, which resembles that of 

 most aquatic birds. A tamed 

 specimen fed readily on shrimps. 

 It is not very fond of using its 

 wings, but when flying, extends 



the legs backwards after the same fashion as the heron. The flesh of the Chinese Jacana 

 is very excellent, and has been likened to that of the snipe, so that the bird is in some 

 request among sportsmen. Shooting it is, however, no very easy task, as a wounded bird 

 is seldom if ever recovered, diving at once and remaining submerged until the foe has 

 left the spot, or death has released it from its sufferings. 



The nest of the Chinese Jacana is made of reeds and grasses, is flat in form, and is 

 supported upon the woven stems of aquatic plants. The eggs are about six or seven in 



JACANA. — Purra Jacana. 



