29


the island. In all, three new nests had been built, and the

robbed one desti'oyed, since the eggs were taken. On the 22nd,

further work was proceeding at the willow. The abandoned nest

in the sticks was used for brooding the first clutch, and trodden

out of all shape by them. The nest in the willow was worked at

dail}^ and on the 29th two eggs were observed therein. The next

day the eggs could not be counted, as fresh reeds had been added

to the sides of the nest so as to partially conceal them. On the i5tl;

of June an egg was floating on the water near the nest ; the male

bird was seen raising the sides of the nest round the sitting hen.

On the 20th three chicks appeared, while three eggs remained in

the nest. The next day there were still but three chicks, and I

had to leave home. On my return, on the 25th, I counted six

chicks, but one was in the water looking very weakly. The

next day it was floating, dead, close to the nest ; but the parent

birds made no effort to remove it. The same day I saw one of

the first hatching sitting on the nest, brooding the little ones.

.When the chicks were a week old the parents, for some reason

or other, began to still further raise the sides of the nest. A few

days afterwards, one of the old ones was brooding the young on

the site of the original nest on the island, which was partially

renewed by bending down the growing rushes ; and the nest on

the willow had the sides further repaired, as if in readiness for a

fourth laying. This was continued for several days, but no eggs

were laid. A new nest of reeds was observed on the island, but

judging from its small size and bad workmanship, it was probably

built by the young in imitation of the parents. The tops of a bed

of irises were bent over some two feet above water, so as to form

a platform, on which one of the adult birds was sunning itself.


On the 28th of August, it was noticed that all the nests,

except that on the island (supposed to be the work of the young

birds), were pulled to pieces, and the materials scattered about.

In the latter end of September, the number of young birds was

reduced to two ; but whether this was the work of cats or rats,

or was the result of the others being driven away by the parents,

can only be conjedlured. None of the commotions heard in 1896

have been noticed this year


A comparison of the behaviour of my Moorhens with that

of those in St. James's Park, is curious. While mine are nearly

as tame, so far as we are concerned, as those in London, yet they

remain as wary as wild birds, with regard to strangers ; while

those in the Park are quite indifferent to the presence of anyone.



