306 
THE WATER-HEN. 
suspicion that an enemy is near, gliding silently through the 
narrow channels, or running with a light tread over the 
floating leaves, to seek invisible shelter under the roots or 
hollows of the hank. Not that she always prefers the water, 
- — for often in the evening she may he seen wandering in the 
new-shorn grass of a hay-field, easily distinguishable by the 
white feathers on her wing and vent, and a peculiar jerk or 
flirting of the tail. But with all her shyness, she is, never- 
theless, a tame and sociable bird, and if treated with kind- 
ness, will show a marked confidence. We have seen Water- 
Hens visiting the lawn of an inclosed garden, and remaining 
there, notwithstanding the constant intrusion and harking of 
parlour-dogs, Peacocks, and tame Pheasants : and, again, not 
unfrequent intruders in a barn-yard, mixing in a party of 
poultry. But at the residence of a clergyman near Cheadle, ! 
in Staffordshire, a much more striking instance of familiarity ; 
has for some years occurred. Adjacent to the lawn there is 
a moat, on which a pair of Water-Hens were observed for 
several seasons, always however leaving it in the Spring. 
By being constantly fed, they in time became quite tame, and 
at length were induced to breed there, from the circumstance 
of a thorn-hush covered with ivy having fallen into the water, 
in which they afterwards continued to build their nest. When 
the young are a few days old, the old ones bring them up 
close to the drawing-room window, where they are regularly 
fed with wheat : and, as the lady of the house pays them the j 
greatest attention, they have learned to look up to her as 
their natural protectress and friend ; so much so, that one 
bird in particular, which was much persecuted by the rest, 
would, when attacked, fly to her for refuge ; and whenever 
she calls, the whole flock, as tame as barn-door fowls, quit 
the water, and assemble around her, to the number of seven- 
teen (November, 1833). They have also made other friends 
in the dogs belonging to the family, — approaching them 
without fear, though hurrying off with great alarm on the 
appearance of a strange dog. The position of the water, 
together with the familiarity of these birds, has afforded many 
interesting particulars respecting their habits. They have 
