319 



instances of its nest having been found on the branch of a fir tree, a few feet above the water, and 

 on a branch which rested on the surface of deep still water, and in one instance on a spruce tree 

 about twenty feet above the ground ; but it only selects such places in exceptional cases, probably 

 when there is a chance of the nest being swamped by an overflow of the water. The Moorhen is 

 said even to remove its eggs and raise its nest should the water rise and threaten to overwhelm 

 it ; and Selby gives an instance of a pair of Moorhens having done this. The nest is a bulky 

 structure of dried reeds and blades of grasses and aquatic plants, the inside cup being rather 

 more carefully made of finer materials. The eggs, from six to nine or even ten in number, are 

 pale rusty clay-yellow in ground-colour, marked more or less profusely with violet-grey shell- 

 spots and reddish-brown surface-spots and blotches, and measure from Iff by 1^% to lf^ by 

 1^ inch. The surface of the shell is smooth, but nearly devoid of gloss; and in shape the eggs 

 are oval, slightly more pointed towards one end than towards the other. Incubation lasts from 

 twenty to twenty-one days, both male and female birds taking their turn on the nest, though the 

 female is said to sit always during the night, the male taking up his quarters for the night in 

 close proximity. Two or even three broods are raised in the same season ; and the young birds 

 of the first brood will assist in bringing up those subsequently hatched. 



The specimens figured, an adult female with the young birds in down dress, are in my own 

 collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, S, b, 2 ■ Hampstead, near London, April 28th, 1870 (Davy), c, d, e, pulli. Norfolk, f, $ ad. Albania 

 (Hanbury -Barclay), g. Amparo, Philippines, July 1877 (A. H. Everett), h, 6. Kingston, Ontario, 

 1873 (A. R. Dresser). 



E Mus. Brit. Meg. 



a. Avington, Hants, November 25th, 1872 (E. Shelley), b. Athens, c, <S . Lake Ashangi, May 4th, 1868 

 (Blanford). d. Benguela (Hartlaub). e. Natal. /. Potchefstroom, South Africa (Barratt). g,juv. 

 India. h, i,juv.,j, k, I, ad. Nepal [Hodgson). m. Behar (Hodgson). n. Tenasserim (Packman), 

 o. Thibet (Earl Gifford). p. Yunnan, June 1868 (Dr. Anderson) . g. Celebes, r, s. Trinidad. . t. Brazil. 

 u. South America (Turner). 



E Mus. Salvin et Godman. 



a. Mexico, b, c. Duefias, September 1862 (0. Salvin). d, ?. Altiloquia, Columbia (Salmon), e, <S . Costa 

 Rica, 1869. /. Southern Peru, November 4th, 1867 (Whitely). g, 6 . Cacara, Brazil, April 12th, 1828. 



E Mus. C. A. Wright. 

 a. Salini, Malta, May 1874 (C. A. W). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders, 

 a, 2, b,pull. Malaga, Spain, July 9th, 1871. b, 6 . Tangier. 



