326 
EALLIDiE. 
THE COMMON WATEEHEN. 
Common Gallinule; Moorhen. 
Gallimda c]iloro2ms, Linn, (sp.) 
Fulica „ ,, 
Is abundant throughout Ireland, and permanently re- 
sident. 
There is not anything peculiar respecting this species to be 
brought forward in the case of migratory birds, or which might 
not be said of it in any country. It is equally common in Ire- 
land, Great Britain, and the Continent of Europe. The in- 
teresting operations connected with its nest have been pleasingly 
treated of by Mr. Selby‘S and others ; but a few additional 
instances of the bird^’s intelligence may be selected from notes 
in my possession. It may, however, first be observed, that the 
waterhen visits uninvited, and eventually takes up its abode at 
localities where protection is afforded : — its tameness, handsome 
appearance, and lively motions combined, render the bird every- 
where very attractive. To Wolfhill, near Belfast, where I spent 
many smnmers, it thus came, increased rapidly in numbers, and 
was to be seen tame as any poultry ; — coming within a pace of where 
one stood. Little troops of them were partial to the stable-yard, 
in which they fed with the fowl, and so many as fourteen would 
often appear at the same time. A dozen might be reckoned 
roosting on a single bush in the autumn : though the pond they 
frequented was surrounded by trees and slnubs. A bird would 
sometimes remain perched on one foot for the night (or so late 
as any person was out of doors to observe it), on the top of a large 
stone in the pond. At this place, a pair once seemed even to 
prefer the vicinity of man in selecting a site for their nest, which 
was built in a heap of stones within a few paces of where 
* lUust. Brit. Orn. vol. ii. p. 188, and Berwiclisliire Naturalists’ Club Proceed- 
ings, p. 84. 
