Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/371

Rh 8.40.—The two again at the weeds; the female leaps up, makes the pose, and lies along just as the male has, on previous occasions, done. The male now swims ardently up, but becomes, as it were, nervous, and remains on the water. After a little the female comes off, and, very shortly afterwards, the other—the male—leaps on to the raft, poses and lies along, just as he has done before, and just as the female has done a moment ago. But, as is so frequently the case, the matter proceeds no further.

May 1st.—Got to the water at about 7.30 a.m., and could see no Grebes there. Walking along the shore to the weeds, I found the nest—for I now think it is one—apparently no further advanced than when I last saw it. It is hardly raised above the water, and quite unnoticeable through the glasses, or when not looked directly down upon from quite near. Walking back, I saw both the birds in a part of the water they do not so often visit, and for some time, now, they fished, and I saw them catch and eat several fish. Then they fronted each other in the water, and, erecting their long necks, tâtéd a little with the bills in their usual manner, after which they seemed going to the nest, but the intention did not hold. There was now another long interval, and then just the same again, and afterwards I came away without anything further having taken place.

May 2nd.—At 7 a.m. I find the Grebes as before, swimming lazily about, that is to say, and catching and eating a fish now and again, with an easy grace. Nothing of a nuptial character takes place till after 8, when something interesting, and which I have not before seen, does. The two are on the opposite side of the water to the nest, and, fronting each other, tâter first with their beaks. Then the female dives, and comes up with a small piece of weed, which she, I think, lets drop. Immediately afterwards—but whether before or after she comes up I cannot quite say—the male dives too—excitedly, I think—and, coming up with a larger piece of weed, the two again front each other, and all at once both of them leap entirely upright in the water, standing, it would seem, on their feet, either upon the water itself or on the mud or weeds just below its surface. This latter I think it must be, since they are now right on shore, and their movements seem to imply a firm basis of support. Still, they have dived, and