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The Water 'Hen or More-Hen. Gall inula chloropus 



major. • 



Numb. LXXII. 



HE Cock weighed fifteen Ounces, the Hen twelve; from the "Point of the Bill 

 to the End of the Feet was feventeen Inches and a quarter, to the End of the Tail 

 thirteen Inches and a half; Breadth, when the Wings were extended, twenty two 

 Inches and a half; the Bill was ftreight about an Inch long; the nether Chap, as far 

 as the Angle, of a pale yellow, then red; the upper lefs yellow at the End; about the 

 Noftrils, and to the End of the bald Part red; the bald Part is round and ends at the 

 Top of the Head, being like that of the Coot^ fave that a Coot\ is white, but this is 

 red'; the rednefs on the Bill is as in were plaifiered on, and may be fcraped off; the 

 red Part of the Bill is feparated from the yellow by a round Circumference a little 

 elevated, fo that in the middle of the Bill it is produced further than on the Sides; 

 the Tongue is pretty broad, not cloven, rough at the End ; ihe Irides of the Eyes are 

 red, the lower Eye lid is not feathered: [in the young Birds, neither the Bill, nor the 

 bald Spot in the Forehead are red^ the Legs are green, the Claws of a dark brown near 

 black, indifferently long; the Toes long, as in the Coot, the middle the longefi-, next 

 the outmoft, all broader and plainer below than in the other cloven-footed Birds, for 

 the ufe of fwimming ; the back Toe is broad, ferving perchance as a Rudder to 

 /teer and dire6l their Courfe; the Legs are feathered almoft down to the Knees, be- 

 iween the Feathers and the Joint marked with a- red Spot, 



From the Shoulders or fetting on of the Wing, all along its Bafe or Ridge, and to 

 the very Ends of the Feathers, runs a line of white; the longer Feathers under the 

 Wings are curioufly adorned with white Spots or Lines tending downwards ; the Breaft 

 is of a lead Colour; under the Tail are white Feathers; as ic Iwims or walks it often 

 flirts up its Tail, and fhews the white, efpecially when it puts down its Head to pick 

 tip any thing; the Back and leffer Row of wing Feathers approach to a ferrugineous 

 Colour, elfe it is all over blackifli : in the Male the Feathers under the Tail are 

 whiter, the Belly more cinereous, and the Back more ferrugineous. 



Its Liver is fmall. Gall-bladder great, the Gall within being of a greenifh black 

 Colour. It will feed very far, its Flefli is very well rafted, and even comparable to 

 that of Teal It gets its Food on graffy Banks and Borders near Waters, and in the 

 very Waters, efpecially if they be weedy, feeding (I believe) on fuch Infedts as it 

 finds among the weeds. It builds on low Trees and Shrubs by the Water fides, breeding 

 twice or thrice in a Summer, and when the Young ones are grown up, it drives them 

 away to flilf"t for themfelves. Ls Eggs are fliarp at one End, white with a Tindlure of 

 green, fpotted with redifh fpots ; it ftrikes with its Bill like a Hen; it fits upon Boughs 

 and flaggy Places of the Rivers, but thofe only that are thick, and near the Water; it 

 Jives about Motes, and great Pools of Water near Gentlemen's Houfes. It fiies with its 

 Feet hanging down, it is narrow bodied, and very much comjprcfTed fideways (this is 

 common to all of this Kind) contrary to the Duck Kind, whofe Bodies are broad, flat, 

 0nd .depreffcd. 



