.THE WATER-HEN'. 
807 
! three broods in a season — the first early in April ; and they 
[ begin to lay again when the first hatch is about a fortnight 
old. They lay eight or nine eggs, and sit about three weeks, 
— the cock alternately with the hen. The nest in the thorn- 
! bush is placed usually so high above the surface of the water, 
! that when the young are first hatched and have quitted it, 
; they cannot climb into it again ; but, as a substitute, within 
an hour after they leave the nest, the cock bird builds a 
i larger and more roomy nest for them, with sedges, at the 
\ water’s edge, which they can enter or retire from at pleasure. 
! For about a month they are fed by the old birds, but soon 
I become very active in taking flies and water-insects. Imme- 
diately on the second hatch coming out the young ones of 
I the first hatch assist the old ones in feeding and hovering 
( over them, leading them out in detached parties, and making 
; additional nests for them, similar to their own, on the brink 
of the moat. 
On the appearance of the third brood, the old ones in- 
\ variably drive the first away to a neighbouring pond, where 
I they remain till September, when the last hatch is about half- 
: grown. About this time a fresh party of birds makes its 
; appearance, which from their tameness is, no doubt, composed 
of broods formerly bred there ; and in the moat the united 
i families remain till the following Spring, when the original 
pair drive all the rest away, but not without many severe and 
curious contests frequently in the water, when they throw 
I themselves on their rumps, and strike at each other with their 
I feet. When either of the combatants begins to find himself 
i worsted, he dives, and does not reappear, — thus eluding his 
adversary, by hiding his whole body under water, and merely 
exposing his beak for respiration. 
During the breeding season, they are constantly adding 
i materials to their nest, making sad havoc in the flower- 
garden ; for, though straw and leaves are their chief ingre- 
dients, they seem to have an eye for beauty, and the old hen 
has been seen surrounded with a brilliant wreath of scarlet 
anemones. As in this case, so do they usually build their 
nests on stumps of trees, or convenient bushes, by the side of 
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