FLORIDA GALLINULE. 
131 
they would rest awhile, placing their necks on the reeds or large 
leaves of aquatic plants. 
Not gifted by nature with the long wings of other Waders, the 
Water Hens, being any thing but wanderers, obey both their 
conformation and natural disposition by not undertaking long 
periodical migrations, but are permanently resident in their native 
countries, merely removing from one station to another within 
certain provinces, and without roaming over the adjacent districts. 
They run with rapidity; fly badly; always in motion, and fre¬ 
quently carry their tail high, as represented in the plate, showing 
the white plumage of the vent, especially when running on the 
ground. They dive when frightened, but never after food. They 
feed on small fishes, insects, and some vegetables, picking them 
up as they swim. They seldom leave the pond or river where 
they get their food and exercise, and are peculiarly attached to 
such as are bordered with sedge and bushes; and standing waters, 
green with vegetation, furnish them with abundant provision of 
animalcula and pond-weeds. They lay twice or thrice in a 
season, building their nest upon low trees, stumps and bogs, with 
sticks and fibrous substances, rushes and weeds, or other coarse 
materials in great abundance, invariably placing it by the water 
side. The eggs are very long, of a greenish white, spotted wfith 
rufous, and very pointed at the small end. There are nine or 
ten in the first brood, the subsequent ones less and less numerous, 
and the mother never leaves the nest without carefully covering 
them with weeds. The chicks are no sooner hatched than they 
swim, with instinctive dexterity, pursuing their parent, and imi¬ 
tating all her motions. Thus are two or three broods reared in 
a season, which while under her care she regularly after their 
evening’s sport leads back to the nest, where she uses every 
exertion to make them warm, dry, and comfortable : but when 
grown up and taught to provide for themselves, she turns them off. 
