Nest, &c. 
190 GRALLATORES. GALLINULA. GALLINULE. 
short space only, with the legs hanging down; though it 
rises without apparent difficulty, and can occasionally take a 
long course on wing. It will sometimes perch upon a bush, 
or low tree, and that without effort, its long and slender toes 
giving to it a strong power of grasp. On the margins of 
ponds or rivers, where the grass is short, it is frequently 
seen walking about in search of worms and slugs, flirting up 
its tail at intervals, and thus displaying, in a conspicuous 
manner, its white under coverts; and as its motions are 
lively, it becomes a desirable ornamental appendage to those 
parts of pleasure grounds. For the site of its nest it selects 
a retired spot among the sedges or low brooks by the water- 
sides, its foundation frequently resting upon the low floating 
branches, or upon the stump of an old willow-tree. It is 
formed of an interlaced mass of decayed flags, rushes, &c. 
of considerable thickness; in which are deposited from eight 
to ten eggs, larger than those of the Meadow Crake, and of a 
yellowish-white, or pale yellowish-brown colour, marbled all 
over with a differently-sized spots of reddish-brown, or um- 
ber brown of various shades. These birds, when they leave 
the nest for the purpose of feeding, cover their eggs ; an in- 
stinctive habit possessed by several others, not only of this 
but of other families, and which I conceive to be done rather 
with a view to concealment from their enemies, than to re- 
tain during their absence the warmth generated by incu- 
bation, as suggested by Dr Renniz. After three weeks the 
young are excluded, covered with a black hairy down, and 
immediately take to the water, where they are assiduously 
attended by the parent, who frequently broods over them in 
the manner of a hen. This downy covering gradually gives 
place to the usual plumage, and in the course of nearly five 
weeks they can fly and provide for themselves. In this young 
state they are exposed to many dangers, and often become 
the prey of rats and other vermin, as well as of the voracious 
pike, which, according to Montacu, has been known even 
to swallow the old bird.—Their nests and eggs are also 
