where they were likely to go for food and shelter when their natural haunts were frozen over. When the ice has disappeared, the birds have returned. I have lately discovered, however, that they harbour in thick hedges and bushes, from which they are not easily driven; aware, probably, that they have no other shelter. They also get into thorn-trees, especially those covered with ivy, and probably feed on the berries, although their feet seem but ill-adapted for perching. During a very severe frost, a pair of Water-hens kept almost entirely in a large arbutus-tree on a lawn, which was inclosed by a high paling, and had no pond near it. Here they probably fed on the berries of the tree, and the other produce of the garden."*

The nest of this bird is composed of dry rushes, grass, or other coarse materials accumulated in considerable quantity among reeds or herbage, near the water's-edge; sometimes on the low branch of a tree which droops into the stream. In the "Naturalist," Naturalist," a case is recorded in which the nest floated on the water without any attachment whatever to the island which it adjoined, but was inclosed on all sides by sticks, &c. Thus situated, the careful parents hatched their eggs in perfect safety; though, had the water risen to an unusual height, the case might have been otherwise.

Curious instances of sagacity, or what one would call presence of mind, in this bird's behaviour when danger threatens her eggs or infant-brood, are on record, from which we select the following. The charming writer already quoted, Mr. * Gleanings, p. 303.

Jesse, observes,-"The Moor-hen displays sometimes a singular degree of foresight in her care · for her young. It is well known that she builds her nest amongst sedges and bulrushes, and generally pretty close to the water, as it is there less likely to be observed. In places, however, where anything like a flood is likely to take place, a second nest, more out of the reach of the water, is constructed, which is intended to be in readiness in case a removal of the eggs or young ones should be found necessary. This observation was made by a family residing at an old priory in Surrey, where Moor-hens abound, and where the fact was too often witnessed by themselves and others, to leave any doubt upon their minds."*

"During the early part of the summer of 1835," observes Mr. Selby, "a pair of Waterhens built their nest by the margin of the ornamental pond at Bell's Hill, a piece of water of considerable extent, and ordinarily fed by a spring from the height above, but into which the contents of another large pond can occasionally be admitted. This was done while the female was sitting; and as the nest had been built when the water-level stood low, the sudden influx of this large body of water from the second pond caused a rise of several inches, so as to threaten the speedy immersion and consequent destruction of the eggs. This the birds seem to have been aware of, and immediately took precautions against so imminent a danger; for when the gardener, upon whose veracity I can safely rely, seeing the sudden rise of the water, went to look after the * Gleanings, p. 215.

nest, expecting to find it covered, and the eggs destroyed, or at least forsaken by the hen, he observed, while at a distance, both birds busily engaged about the brink where the nest was placed; and when near enough, he clearly perceived that they were adding, with all possible despatch, fresh materials to raise the fabric beyond the level of the increased contents of the pond, and that the eggs had, by some means, been removed from the nest by the birds, and were then deposited upon the grass, about a foot or more from the margin of the water. He

watched them for some time, and saw the nest rapidly increase in height; but I regret to add, that he did not remain long enough, fearing he might create alarm, to witness the interesting act of the replacing of the eggs, which must have been effected shortly afterwards; for upon his return, in less than an hour, he found the hen quietly sitting upon them in the newly-raised nest. In a few days afterwards, the young were hatched, and, as usual, soon quitted the nest, and took to the water with their parents. The nest was shewn to me in situ very soon afterwards, and I could then plainly discern the formation of the new with the older part of the fabric.

The young soon display a good deal of sagacity in avoiding danger, and in obeying the monitory signals of their watchful parents. Mr. Rennie says that he has seen a young brood, evidently not above two days old, dive instantaneously, even before the watchful mother seemed to have time to warn them of his approach, and certainly before * Proceedings of Berwicksh. Naturalists' Club.

she followed them under water.* And Mr. Jesse, having disturbed a Moor-hen that had just hatched, tells us that "her anxiety and manœuvres to draw away her young were singularly interesting. She would go a short distance, utter a cry, return, and seemed to point out the way for her brood to follow. Having driven her away," he continues, "that I might have a better opportunity of watching her young ones, she never ceased calling to them, and at length they made towards her, skulking amongst the rushes, till they got to the other side of the pond. They had only just left the shell, and had probably never heard the cry of their mother before."+

The young have the legs and feet of their full size and development, while the feathers of the wings are only beginning to protrude; thus proving how subordinate the organs of flight in this genus are to those of walking and swimming.

Contrary to what is usual among birds, the female Gallinule is more richly adorned than the male; the plumage being of a deeper colour, and the frontal shield being larger, and of a brilliant scarlet, like sealing-wax, while that of the other sex is of a dull brown.

* Habits of Birds, p. 216.

+ Gleanings, p. 53.

ORDER VIII. ANSERES.

(Web-footed Birds.)

This, the last Order of Birds, is very extensive, and widely distributed. As the waters, of which these birds may, generally, be considered as the inhabitants, possess in the different regions of the globe much more in common than the land, we might expect to find their tenants, to a considerable extent, manifesting a similar community. Nor is this expectation found to be groundless, for, not only are the genera represented by peculiar species in all countries and upon all coasts, but very many even of the species in this Order are found to be truly cosmopolite, many of the Ducks, the Terns, and the Petrels completely circling the globe.

With the trifling exception of the Grebes, which have their feet formed somewhat like that of the Coot, in the last family, the whole Order before us is well marked by having the toes united to each other by a membrane stretched between them, whereby the foot acquires the form of a powerful oar, and of which a familiar example will occur to every reader, in the common Duck or Goose. In addition to this, the feet are placed far back on the body, especially in those species most eminently aquatic, a structure which, while it renders the gait of these birds awkward and shuffling on land, gives to the backward stroke of