The Water-Hen or More-Heu. Gallinula chloropus
major.
Numb. LXXII.
TH E Cock weighed fifteen Ounces, the Hen twelve; from the Point o f the Bill
to the Eiid of the Feet was feventeen Inches and a quarter, to the End o f the Tail
thirteen Inches and a half; Breadth, when the Wings were extended, twenty two
Inches and a half; the Bill was flreight about an Inch long; the nether Chap, as far
as the Angle, 'of a pale yellow, then red; the upper left yellow at the End ; about the
Noilrils, and to the End of the bald Part red; the bald Part is round and ends at the
Top of the Head, being like that of the Coot, lave that a Coot's is white, but this is
red; the rednefs on the Bill is as it were plaiflered on, and may be fcraped o ff; the
red Part of .the Bill is feparated from the yellow by a round Circumference a little
elevated, lb that in the middle of the Bill it is produced further than on the Sides;
the Tongue is pretty broad, not cloven, rough at the End; the Irides o f the Eyes are
red, the lower Eye lid is not feathered: .[in the young Birds, neither the Bill, nor the
bald Spot in the Forehead are fedj the Legs are green, the Claws of a dark brown near
black, indifferently long; the Toes long, as in the Coot, the middle the longeft, next
the Outmoft, all broader and plainer below than in the other cloven-footed Birds, for
the ule of fwimming; the back Toe is i broad, ferving perchance as a Rudder to
fleer and direit their Courfe; the Legs are feathered almofl down to the Knees, between
the Feathers and the Joint marked with a red Spot.
From the Shoulders or fetting on of the Wing, all along its Bale or Ridge, and to
the very Ends of the Feathers, runs a line of white ; the longer Feathers under the
Wings are -curioufly adorned with white Spots or Lines tending downwards; the Breaft
is of a lead Colour; under the Tail are, white Feathers; as it fwims or walks it often
flirts up its Tail, and ihews the white, efpecially when it puts down its Head to pick
up any thing ; the Back and lefier Row of wing Feathers approach to a feirugineous
"Colour, elfe it is all over blackilh: in the Male the Feathers under the Tail are
Whiter, the Belly more cinereous, and the Back more ferrugineous.
Its Liver is fmall, Gall-bladder great, the Gall within being of a greenilh black
Colour. It will feed very fat, its Flelh is very well tailed, and even comparable to
that of Teal. It gets its Food on grafly Banks and Borders near Waters, and in the
very Waters, efpecially if they be weedy, feeding (I believe) on fuch Infedts as it
finds among the weeds. It builds on low Trees and Shrubs by the Water fides, breeding
twice or thrice in a Summer, and when the Young ones are grown up, it drives them
away to ihift for themfelves. Its Eggs are fliarp at one End, white with a Tinflure of
green, fpotted with redilh fpots; it ilrikes with its Bill like a Hen-, it fits upon Boughs
and flaggy Places of the Rivers, but thofe only that are thick, and near the Water; it
lives about Motes, and great Pools of Water near Gentlemen’s Iloufes. It flies with its
Feet hanging down, it is narrow bodied, and very much compreffed fideways (this is
common to all of this Kind) contrary to the Duck Kind, whofe Bodies are broad, flat,
and jdepreffed, HI
T/ie.'tim'*" -/ten ■