278 BIRDS AND MAN 



before the hungry, impatient young bird was 

 allowed to take it. 



We have another pleasure in hearing this 

 bird's long bubbling or trilling love-call, like a peal 

 of laughter, or a sound between a bird's prolonged 

 cry and the musical laugh of a child. 



A stiU more prolific and pushing bird is the 

 moorhen, the Londoner's first favourite. He can 

 find his own food, but is just as ready as the 

 sparrow and wood-pigeon to take bread from you. 

 He makes his nest on the ground, or on the 

 water among the weeds, or on a low branch, or 

 up in a bush or tree, and is well able to defend it 

 against all enemies. His courage in dashing at 

 and attacking a rat, however big, is delightful to 

 witness. Before the first brood are more than 

 half-grown a fresh nest is built and more eggs 

 laid ; then the young birds begin to help their 

 parents in keeping the nest in repair, incubating, 

 and finally tending the new lot of young birds 

 when they are out. As soon as the little island 

 or pool inhabited by the birds begins to get too 

 crowded, the full-grown young are driven out to 

 look for some pool or island still unoccupied, 

 where they can start life on their own account. 



