THE WATER HEN. 
341 
below they seem to be exposed to every blast. Yet they find 
shelter enough, and not only find it, but make it. With the 
generality of birds, the droppings are conveyed away by the 
parents, but with the Ringdove they are allowed to remain, 
when they rapidly fill up all the open interstices, and form a 
dry scentless plaster, which effectually defends the tender bodies 
of the young from the wind, and has the further effect of con- 
solidating and strengthening the nest. 
Although the nests are plentiful enough, and the eggs are 
common in the cabinet of oologists, it is not very easy to find 
a nest that is furnished with this curious plaster, probably be- 
cause some one of the many foes which persecute the Ringdove 
has discovered the nest, stolen the eggs, or killed the parent 
( before the young birds were hatched. 
It has already been mentioned that, with many branch-build- 
ing birds, the thickness of the nest, or of the platform on which 
it is placed, is regulated by the exposed or sheltered position of 
the branch, and such is the case with the Ringdove. Although 
in some instances, the platform is so flimsy that the eggs can 
be seen through the interstices, in other cases it is from half an 
inch to an entire inch in thickness. In all cases, the longest 
twigs are first laid, and followed by those of smaller size ; and, 
although the whole structure is very rude, it is always made 
with sufficient care to assume a tolerably circular shape. 
The Turtledove ( Columba turtur ) builds a nest of very similar 
form, and, if possible, even slighter in construction. 
The well-known Water Hen or Moor Hen ( Gallinula 
Chloropus ) always places its nest near the water, but the bird 
seems to be very indifferent about the precise locality. 
Sometimes it is made on the ground, and in that case is laid, 
among sedges and rushes where the water cannot reach it. The 
Water Hen, however, is not averse to nesting in a warm and 
comfortable place, for Mr. Waterton mentions that on one occa- 
sion, when he had built a neat little brick house for a duck, and 
§ furnished it with dry hay for a nest, a Water Hen took posses- 
sion of it, and the duck had to find a home elsewhere. 
