II 



change in plumage, but this was not the case with the 

 individuals here dealt with, which always retained 

 their dark summer plumage with the chestnut neck. 

 They bred, or tried to nest, at almost any time of 

 year. The "shrimps" on which they largely fed were 

 a small species of freshwater prawns. The pond was 

 not fenced, and the grounds full of prowling vermin, 

 but yet they nested only a few yards out. 



May 2isi, 1902. Young Dabchick, which was now 

 nearly in full plumage, gone ; one old bird near the 

 nest, which was made in kalmi or water-convolvulus, 

 and contained one ^ZZ' 



May 1211(1. Both old birds on nest in morning; 

 one only in afternoon. 



May 2/^th. One old bird on nest in evening, 

 though a native was fishing not more than three 

 yards off. But when I came the bird got up and 

 pulled more weeds over the eggs and got off the nest. 



May 25///. Young bird again present and in fear 

 of old one, from which it is now hard to distinguish, 

 being merely duller. 



Jzine ^th. Young one still present ; in the 

 evening one old bird was sitting, and the two others 

 not far off, — the young now indistinguishable from the 

 adults. 



June 6ih. Old bird in the nest, the morning 

 being warm, standing up and quivering its half-closed 

 wings. 



yu7ie Till, Bird on nest in evening, about sunset, 

 but not on the eggs, which were uncovered; there 

 were four of them, looking quite white. This is the 

 first time I have seen them uncovered since May 21st. 



yiine lotk. At mid-day — the weather being very 

 hot — the bird was off the eggs, which were exposed ; 

 they now look rather creamy. 



ytme nth. Bird got off in morning, leaving two 



