BRITISH BIRDS. 
129 
under each eye, the irides of which are red: all 
the upper part of the plumage is of a dark Aiming 
olive green, inclining to brown j the under parts 
are of a dark hoary lead colour : vent feathers 
black ; thofe on the belly and the thighs tipped 
with dirty white: the long loofe feathers on the 
fides, which hang over the upper part of the thighs, 
are black, ftreaked with white: the ridge of the 
wing, outfide feathers of the tail, and thofe under- 
neath, are white : the upper bare part of the thighs 
is red ; from the knees to the toes, the colours 
are different Aiades, from pale yellow to deep green : 
the toes are very long, the middle one meafuring, 
to the end of the nail, nearly three inches ; their 
underfides are broad, being furniAied with mem- 
braneous edgings their whole length on each Ade, 
by which the bird is enabled to fwim, and eafily 
run over the furface of the Aimy mud by the fides 
of the waters, where it frequents. 
The body of the Water Hen is long and com- 
preffed at the Tides, and the legs are placed far be- 
hind ; its feathers are thickly fet, or compadl, and 
are bedded upon down. Like the Water Rail and 
Water Crake, it lives concealed, during the day, 
among reeds and willows, by the Ades of rivers or 
rivulets, which it prefers to bogs and Aagnant pOols : 
like thofe birds, it can run over the furface of fuch 
waters as are thickly covered with weeds, and it 
dives and hides itfelf with equal eafe : like the Wa- 
VoL. II. t R 
