THE WATER CROWFOOT 159 
on the chance of getting something worth having 
in the water. We shall not examine our catch now ; 
we shall have more time for such work at home, 
and, besides, we shall need the help of the micro- 
scope. , 
Hullo! there’s a Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). 
See it in the water right across the pond, not far 
from the bank and behind the rushes. The Moor- 
hen seems to like small sheets of water like this, 
while the Coots (Fulica atra), a number of which 
may be seen on the big dam about a mile away, 
prefer bigger expanses. You know the difference 
between these two water-birds. The Moorhen is 
about 12 or 13 inches long, while the length of the 
Coot is something like 18 inches. The Moorhen’s 
bill is yellow with a red base ; the Coot has a bald, 
white patch on the forehead, and its bill is a pale 
lavender colour, with a tinge of pink. 
Before we leave the pond we must notice a few 
plants that grow hereabouts. That white flower 
growing in the water is the Water Crowfoot 
(Ranunculus aquatalis). It belongs to the Butter- 
cup family. Just reach a specimen with this stick 
and observe a peculiarity in connection with its 
leaves. It has leaves which grow under water that 
you will see are cut up into hairlike segments, 
whereas the upper floating leaves are kidney- 
shaped, and not cut. It seems that the submerged 
leaves are cut so as not to offer too much resistance 
to currents of water. You see, a strong stream of 
water might drag the plant from its moorings were 
its leaves uncut. The River Crowfoot (Ranunculus 
fluitans) has its submerged leaves much more finely 
