THE WATER HEN. 13? 



Similar tp the coot. 



are edged with a straight membrane ; those of 

 the coot have it scolloped and broader. In 

 shape and figure their differences are very trifling, 

 and, if possible, in their manner of living, still 

 less ; therefore the history of one will serve for 

 both. As birds of the crane kind are furnished 

 with long wings, and easily change place, the 

 water-hen, whose wings are short, is obliged to 

 reside entirely near those places where her food 

 lies: she cannot take those journies that most of 

 the crane kind are seen to perform ; compelled 

 by her natural imperfections, as well perhaps as 

 by inclination, she never leaves the side of the 

 pond or the river in which she seeks for provision. 

 Where the stream is selvaged with edges, or the 

 pond edged with shrubby trees, the water-hen is 

 generally a resident: she seeks her food along the 

 grassy banks; and often alon the surface of the 

 water. And it has been judiciously remarked by 

 Goldsmith, that " with Shakespear's Edgar, she 

 drinks the green mantle of the standing pool ; or, 

 at least, seems to prefer these places where it is 

 seen. Whether she makes pond- weed her food, 

 or hunts among it for water-insects which are 

 found there in great abundance, is not certain ; 

 but I have seen them when pond-weed was taken 

 out of their stomach." She builds her nest upon 

 low trees and shrubs, of sticks and fibres, by the 

 water side. Her eggs are sharp at one end, 

 white, with a tincture of green spotted with red. 

 She lays twice or thrice in a summer; her young 



V-OI,. IV. NO. 25. S 



