XXXI. 



GALLINULA CHLOROPUS. (lath.) 



Common Gallinule, Water Hen, Moor Hen, &:c. 



I know of iio bird, when in a state of nature, the eggs of 

 which tlifier so much in size as those of the Water Hen ; 

 they are met with, of every intermediate proportion, from 

 Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 of the Plate. 



The Water Hen breeds in situations somewliat similar to 

 those selected by the Bald Coot, by the sides of lakes, 

 ponds, and rivers ; the nest is usnally placed upon a heap 

 of broken reeds, or tufts of rushes, near the surface of the 

 water, and more especially when surrounded by it, sometimes 

 upon the roots or old decayed stump of a tree growing from 

 its bank ; it is rather large, and is formed of reeds and rushes, 

 and such like materials. The eggs are from five to ten in 

 number, and are laid in IVIay or June. 



Montague observes, that great numbers of these birds are 

 annually destroyed by reason of their nests being placed so 

 near the water, that they are swept away by our summer 

 floods. 



