82 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



here remark that, although the river was unusually wide at this particular 

 place, yet withiu two hundred yards of the site of the nest a wood came 

 down almost to the water's edge, the higher trees of which were occupied 

 by a " Rookery," which one would think would have been an inducement 

 for the Moorhen to use every precaution to protect her home ; so unlike 

 the habits of the Little Grebe, the eggs of which are invariably covered more 

 or less. It always seemed a mystery to me how the latter bird managed to 

 cover up her eggs so adroitly, and, greater mystery still, how she managed 

 to hatch them in such a situation. With regard to the nidification of the 

 Moorhen, I have often found that a much larger number of nests seem to 

 be constructed than are ever used; but for what purpose is this apparent 

 waste of time and labour ? We are well aware the same thing occurs with 

 other species — the Lapwing, for instance ; possibly some annoyance or 

 unsuitable site is discovered after the work is begun, but in many instances 

 another nest is made in close proximity to the one deserted. I have not 

 found a large amount of variation in the eggs of this species, but on one 

 occasion I discovered a nest containing three eggs which differed somewhat 

 from the normal type, in that the larger end was much darker than the 

 other portions of the shell, which was almost spotless except upon this 

 darker zone.— G. B. Coebin (Ringwood, Hants). 



With reference to Mr. W. Hewitt's interesting note on this subject 

 (Zool. 1898, p. 506), may I be permitted to give the results of my small 

 experience? 1 have never found nests of the Moorhen with the eggs 

 covered over, neither when the first egg only has been laid, nor when the 

 clutch has been complete. Only last year (1898), I examined, in this 

 neighbourhood, more than a dozen nests of the Moorhen, and not one of 

 them had the eggs covered over in any way. It is a well-known fact, how- 

 ever, that the Little Grebe, or Dabchick, invariably covers its eggs over on 

 leaving the nest. With regard to Mr. Hewitt's suggestion as to the local 

 variations in the habits of birds, I may say that what Moorhens' nests I 

 have found in other parts of the country — e.g. Essex, Middlesex, Surrey, 

 Herts, Hants, and Suffolk — have never had the eggs covered over. — Basil 

 W. Martin (Darley Abbey, Derby). 



With reference to Moorhens covering their eggs, I have one record of 

 a bird of this species doing so, or partly doing so, after her full clutch was 

 laid. This was near here, on May 21st, 1894, when a Moorhen I disturbed 

 off her nest containing nine eggs, partly covered them with pieces of sea- 

 weed and a fresh green leaf or two. She had then laid her full clutch, but 

 was only just beginning to sit, as the eggs were fresh. On July 19th of 

 that year I found, close to the same spot and probably belonging to the same 

 pair of birds, one Moorhen's egg lying on the bare ground, with a few bits 

 of reed placed round it ; on visiting the spot a few days later there were 



