Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/372

344 been entirely hidden in almost, if not exactly, the same spot, so that its shallowness seems a little difficult to understand. They look like two Penguins, and each, as they stand face to face, must have the fullest view, not only of the front, or throatal, part (which is silvery) of the long and straightly stretched-up necks, but of the whole broad silver surface of the breast and body. Immediately after they have assumed this upright attitude, the hen-bird catches hold of the dangling end of the weed which the male has brought up, and both, holding it between them, make little waddling steps, now forwards, now backwards, but not going more than a few inches either way. I would say that they chassé'd—for it had that effect—but the motion was as described, and not from side to side. Even though it is a dull day, with no sun visible, the effect of this—of the two broad silver shields—is most magnificent. They gleam dazzlingly, yet softly; but what must it be when the whole air and water is dancing in glorious sunlight, as it has been all this week, whilst the most tiresomely timed influenza was keeping me indoors! Whether it is a conscious display or not—and the part which the weed here plays makes me doubt this—the birds could not have adopted an attitude or a position in relation to one another better adapted to show off the beauties of their plumage as a whole. The entire surface of silky silver is exhibited by each to each, whilst the crest and tippet is also much en évidence.

Having remained thus—upright and moving backwards and forwards as described—for quite an appreciable space of time, both birds sink down again on the water, the piece of weed which they had all the while been holding falling disregarded between them, and the male sets off, full of intention, to the nest on the opposite shore. The female follows, but she lags, pauses when about half-way there, and is some way behind when her husband reaches the nest, and, leaping up, lies along on it in the usual manner. Having come up, she makes ready to ascend, then pauses, swims out again, returns, and does the same several times, the male all the while lying in the attitude he has at first assumed. Then, however—after all these disappointments—and having first looked round, as on former occasions, he begins to move and arrange the weeds with his bill, and afterwards, taking the water, rejoins the female. They float negligently on the