CHAPTER XCII. 



The Moorhen. 



Fulica chloropus, Lin. ; La Poule d'Eau, Buf. ; Gallinula 

 chloropus. 



Desceiption and Charactee. — The Moorhen is an aquatic 

 bird, but is so easily tamed, and of so confiding a nature, that 

 it is worthy of a place in any selection of British birds. It 

 is very graceful in its movements, as it paddles along the sur- 

 face of the water in Swan fashion ; and when obtained young, 

 and kept constantly with Ducks, Geese, or Swans, it becomes 

 quite domesticated, and takes up its abode with them without 

 appearing in the least disconcerted or out of place ; and when 

 it gets thoroughly accustomed to the surroundings, and to the 

 people who tend and feed it, little fear is evinced, excepting at 

 the presence of strangers. 



Its mode of progression, when not disturbed, is easy and 

 stately, but when in search of food it is restless and jerky, 

 dips its head frequently in the water, as if to secure a fly, 

 and after each dip turns uneasily to the right side or the 

 left, and darts a furtive glance at any onlooker. These remarks 

 apply to the semi-domesticated birds ; the wild specimens are 

 suspicious, and the sudden presence of a stranger scares and 

 terrifies them ; thus affrighted, they seize the earliest oppor- 

 tunity to dive out of sight, taking shelter among tufts of reeds 

 or aquatic plants not far distant ; or, if suddenly startled, they 

 may take wing and fly to a place of shelter. Where there are 

 no plants or reeds showing above the water, they disappear 

 beneath the surface, and either cling to weeds growing at the 



