84 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



length of wing from 6J to 5 J inches ; American examples (G. galatea) are larger, 

 ranging in length of wing from 7| to 65- inches. It is said that the Water Hen 

 of Madagascar (G. pyrrhorrhoa) is a fairly separable form. 



Habits. — This common and well-known species is a resident on all lakes and 

 slow running streams, where the banks or shallows are covered with sufficient 

 vegetation to afford it concealment. In a great many localities this species lives 

 in an almost domesticated state, so tame as to pay little attention to the presence 

 of man, and coming to his threshold for food during severe weather when its 

 haunts are sealed by frosts. I have known this species to frequent a small stream 

 by the wayside not four feet across, and repeatedly to wander on the highway in 

 quest of food. The Water Hen is just as much at home on land as in water, and 

 walks about the grass lands and the banks of the pool in a singularly graceful 

 manner, flicking its tail up and down every few moments. It swims with equal 

 grace, with a peculiar nodding motion of the head, and is equally expert at diving 

 and progressing under water for considerable distances. Although by no means 

 shy, it is wary and alert enough, often diving at the flash of a gun and hurrying 

 away under water to the shelter of the reeds or flags, where, v^ith its body sub- 

 merged and only its bill protruding, it waits until all is safe again before allowing 

 its body to be uncovered. It is equally at home in a tree or a hedge, and I have 

 known it repeatedly to roost amongst evergreens during long continued frosts. 

 Its flight is not very strong, being slow and laboured, and the long legs are 

 allowed to dangle down as if broken and useless. Nevertheless, it often mounts 

 into the air at night and flies about for an hour or more, uttering its shrill cry at 

 intervals. At all times this species seems pugnaciously inclined, and not only 

 fights with its own kind but with other water fowl that may chance to intrude 

 too closely upon its haunt. The note of the Water Hen is a singularly shrill and 

 piercing hih-ih-ih often modulated into ker-r-r-r-k, and is most frequently uttered 

 at dusk or even during the night. The food of this species consists of worms, 

 snails, insects and their larvse, buds, shoots and seeds of water plants, grass, grain, 

 and even berries, especially of the wild rose and the hawthorn, to obtain which 

 the bird frequently alights in trees and thickets. When in a semi-domesticated 

 state it will eat almost anything that may be thrown down for water fowl ; and 

 it has been known to kill and eat ducklings and pheasant chicks. I have known 

 it try to eat dead mice and rats, and to pick a bone. Although at all times more 

 or less sociably inclined, it is never so gregarious as the Coot, and even in the 

 severest weather seldom visits salt water. When hard pressed for food it will 

 often wander considerable distances from the frozen lakes and ponds, even 

 visiting farmyards and gardens. 



Nidification. — The Water Hen, especially when living under semi- 

 domestic conditions, is one of the earliest birds to breed. I have known it to 

 commence nest building in such cases by the beginning of March, long before 



