THE NESTING HABITS OF MOOB-HENS. 19 



the other was too small to hold the growing family. The same 

 year I found another nest under a tree-root three hundred yards 

 from the one just mentioned. When the young were hatched, 

 another was made in a more exposed situation. On April 27th, 

 1900, I discovered a Moor-hen's nest by the side of a stream. 

 On May 7th some of the young were hatched, and a roosting-nest 

 was commenced — probably by the male bird — in the centre of the 

 stream, this one also being supported by a fallen tree. For several 

 evenings afterwards one of the adult birds was sitting in this latter 

 with the young, and once or twice I was able to approach by day 

 to see one or two young birds using it. As the latter grew, 

 another nest was built under the roots of a neighbouring tree, 

 this being a large, loose, clumsy structure, such as might have 

 been built by the young themselves. 



Near the stream-bank were a number of trees, and at the top 

 of one of these I waited for several hours to observe more closely 

 the habits of the Moor-hens. I had not waited long before the 

 hen swam up stream, meanwhile calling her brood together; she 

 entered the nest built in the stream, and turned round several 

 times to smooth down the loose grass just recently placed there, 

 I could bear the young birds, but could not see them on account 

 of the foliage in the tree. At this moment the keen eye of the 

 old bird caught sight of me ; she hastily left the nest, and did not 

 return. 



This nest was of immense size, and was constantly being 

 added to ; I found freshly added green grass as late as the 

 beginning of August. Another nest that I had under observation 

 during this year (1900) was a repetition of those previously de- 

 scribed; roosting-nests were added for the young in a similar way. 



Although I have consulted several works for the purpose of 

 learning something about such extra nests, they do not appear to 

 be mentioned in any of the chief reference books. Mr. G. B. 

 Corbin, writing in ' The Zoologist ' for Feb. 1899, p. 82, says : — 

 "With regard to the nidification of the Moor-hen, 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?" This is the only reference I have found 

 relating to what I call Moor-hens' roosting-nests. 



It seems to me that all Moor-hens build these extra nests for 



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