315 



October. In North Germany, according to Borggreve it is less numerous in the east than in 

 the west, and is much rarer in the flat coast districts of Pomerania than, for instance, in 

 Westphalia. It arrives in Denmark late in April or early in May, and leaves again for the 

 south in August or September. Mr. Collin states (Skand. Fugle, p. 555) that it breeds not 

 uncommonly throughout the country, as for instance on Moen, at Traneskjser, at Gedsor, on 

 Falster, at Soro, and Ourebygaard, according to Boie in the duchies ; and Mecklenburg found 

 it breeding in Schleswig, and Grill at Skaarup, in the Odense districts, and at Margaard. It is 

 also met with occasionally on Bornholm. The Moorhen is found in Heligoland on passage 

 in April and May, and from the end of August to the 15th of September, but so rarely that 

 Mr. Gatke says one cannot count on three in each successive year. In Western Germany the 

 Moorhen is common in suitable localities; but Mr. Sachse informs me that near Altenkirchen 

 it is rather rare than otherwise, as there are so few ponds, but when it does occur it is generally 

 found nesting. In Holland, Belgium, and France it is very common, being, as a rule, a 

 migrant; but a few remain during the winter, especially in mild seasons. In Spain it is 

 resident; Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 144), "it is not so common in Andalucia as the 

 Spotted Crake (Porzana maruetta) ; but I was unable to detect any migratory habits on the 

 Spanish side of the Straits, where it is tolerably plentiful and generally distributed in all suitable 

 localities, often being seen about the gardens at the edge of the small stream at Algeciraz and 

 at Vejer, seeming, as in England, to be fond of living in the vicinity of houses and cultivation. 

 They nest about the end of April." In all parts of Southern Europe, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, 

 Greece, the Ionian Islands, &c. it is resident and numerous; but in Southern Germany, in 

 districts where the ponds are covered with ice in the winter, it migrates southward, returning 

 again soon after the ice breaks up. In Malta, however, according to Mr. C. A. Wright, it 

 is only met with on passage in March and April, or early in May, and again in September. 

 Lord Lilford, writing to me respecting the Moorhen, says : — " It is abundant in almost all parts 

 of Europe suited to its habits that I have visited, especially in the great marshes of Epirus and 

 in Sicily. I have several times observed young birds of the first brood assisting their parents in 

 building a second nest. A pair of these birds bred and reared six young in my aviary at Lilford 

 in the summer of 1876. I look upon the Waterhen as an enemy to the game-preserver, not 

 only from the quantity of Pheasant-food which it devours, but from the fact that it will attack, 

 kill, and eat young birds of all sorts. The bird is a great favourite of mine, and I should be 

 sorry to encourage its destruction ; but I am persuaded that it is a dangerous neighbour to young 

 game birds." 



In Asia Minor and Palestine it is also found at all seasons of the year; and in Egypt, 

 Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 275), it is very plentiful in some parts of Lower Egypt 

 and the Fayoom ; but he did not meet with it elsewhere there, though it probably ranges through 

 the country. In Algeria and near Tangier it is numerous and resident, though many are migra- 

 tory ; and, according to Mr. F. DuCane God man, it inhabits the eastern group of the Azores, 

 Madeira, and the Canaries. On the mainland of Africa the Moorhen is found (subject to slight 

 variation, as below stated) down to the Cape of Good Hope ; and it breeds also in South Africa 

 in February and March. 



In Asia our European Moorhen abounds in the Caspian provinces, and is not uncommon 



5c2 



