824 
BIRD-LIFE. 
a new nest, and sits upon them with the same ardour 
and perseverance as she did on the first clutch, the 
male bird often remaining for some time longer with 
the first brood. In due course the second lot also behold 
the light of the world, and are reared like their elder 
brothers and sisters: these, however, take part in their 
education. “ As soon as the second brood has made its 
appearance,” says Naumann, “ the members of the first 
one, now more than half grown, come up, showing the 
greatest possible kindness and friendship towards their 
younger relations, and assist the parents in guiding them 
about: old and young, great and small,—there seems to 
be but one heart, one soul amongst them all. The larger 
young ones divide with the parents the labour of educating 
their juniors, showing the little mites every possible care 
and attention, find food, bring it to them, just as the old 
birds had formerly done for them, and still do for the new 
arrivals.” Each grown-up bird is zealous in its efforts to 
provide food for the youngsters, while the latter follow 
alternately in the train of now their foster, now their 
real, parents, receiving food from both parties. Besides 
the two old ones, each young bird is not unfrequently 
accompanied by two assistant feeders, and both do their 
utmost to keep the chick well supplied with food, and 
lavish caresses upon them. In danger, also, the elder 
young birds act just as if they were the real parents, 
warning the younger ones, or forcing them to fly the 
impending danger. 
The Moorhen in confinement, after some few struggles, 
soon becomes resigned to its fate, and learns to conduct 
itself in a rational manner. It easily accustoms itself 
to man’s presence, and can he so tamed as to follow 
its keeper like a dog. We possessed a male bird for a 
