long ; the skin above the knee is of a scarlet colour in the 
male, but in the female inclines to yellow ; the general hue 
of both sexes is alike ; the female is the paler coloured, 
and is somewhat less than the male. 
This is an abundant species, frequenting most streams 
and ponds, particularly such as are well sheltered with 
trees and abound in sedge, amongst which it lies concealed 
during the greater part of the day; towards evening it quits 
its retreat, and may be found skulking along under banks 
or trees that overhang the stream ; on the slightest alarm it 
squats down, or if on the water dives to a distance, and on 
its attaining the surface, th© head is the only part that can 
be observed ; it but seldom takes wing, and flies very badly, 
with its legs dangling in a very awkward manner; 
-whilst either running or swimming, its tail is continually 
flirted up ; it is said to perch on trees when alarmed, though 
its feet do not seem calculated for that purpose. 
The Moor-Hen (as it is usually called) forms its nest of 
coarse grass, rushes, and flags, it is generally placed on a 
sloping bank, scarcely above the water's level, owing to 
which circumstance, many of the nests are destroyed by the 
rising of the water; it lays eight or ten light-coloured 
eggs, splashed with rust colour; the young are at first 
covered with a thick black down, and take to the water 
almost as soon as excluded, though they continue to receive 
the attention of the parent birds till towards the fall of the 
year. ' ^ 
The female sits about twenty days, in which office she is 
frequently 
