GEUIFORMES. 375 



by Alexander the Great. There is little or no difference be- 

 tween our tame ones and the wild birds of India at the present 

 day, with the exception that white varieties are found under 

 domestication. 



9. Gruiformes. 



Eails and Coots (Ralli). 



The Eails or Crakes, Moorhen, and Coots are included in the 

 family Rallidce. They are strong-legged, active-running birds, 

 some being aquatic in habits. The best-known example is the 

 Moothen {GaMinula chloropus). 



The Moorhen or Water-hen is a resident bird with us, but 

 partial migrations take place in very severe winters from north 

 to south. The upper plumage is dark olive-brown ; head, neck, 

 and belly slaty-grey, with white streaks towards the legs ; the 

 under taU-coverts are white ; base of bill red, rest yellow ; legs 

 yellowish-green with a red band around them above the tarsal 

 joint. The female moorhen is larger than the male, and often 

 brighter in coIour The young differ chiefly in having a 

 greenish beak and legs and a white throat. The nest is built 

 in a variety of places — amongst reeds and water-plants as a 

 rule ; but they are sometimes found on trees some height from 

 the ground : boughs overhanging the water are also favourite 

 resorts. The material mainly consists of dried sedge and reeds. 

 Sometimes the nests reach a foot or more in height when the 

 level of the water has risen, the birds adding to the nest to 

 stop it being flooded. As many as ten eggs may be laid, but 

 seven or eight is the usual number. They commence to build 

 early in March, and, as a rule, have two broods in the year, but 

 even three are not unusual. It is said that the young of the 

 first brood help the parents to prepare the second nest. Their 

 food consists of water-insects, slugs, snails, and various land 

 insects ; but at times they will attack seed-corn, and where 

 very abundant may now and then cause slight loss. 



