12 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



It passed quite close to one of the standing birds, but 

 though following its every movement she made no 

 attempt to capture it, nor did we see any indication of 

 theirpreying uponfishof any considerable size. Regularly 

 each evening and often during the day, small parties were 

 seen either making for, or returning from, the coast — 

 apparently their favourite feeding ground — and once we 

 came across five or six plying their bills along the shore. 



After a time several of the cocks (?) returned, as if to 

 see that all was well after the storm, and though 

 mine circled suspiciously round for a time with 

 outstretched craning neck, he was soon beside his 

 mate (Plate 8). She was not a little excited at his 

 coming, and kept up an incessant paddling, first on 

 one foot and then on the other, in front of him, moving 

 her bill up and down the while, obviously never doubting 

 that after so long an absence he would not return empty- 

 cropped. But he took not the shghtest notice, and stood 

 there day-dreaming, looking into space. Then she tried 

 prodding him gently at the base of the neck, with no better 

 result. Finally, with widely gaping bill and uplifted 

 crest, she flapped her wings to and fro, almost in his 

 face, again prodding his throat from time to time rather 

 more forcibly than before. On this failing to move him 

 she appeared satisfied as to his emptiness, and desisted 

 from further entreaties. When thus excited the crest 

 is not only raised but is expanded laterally, giving it a 

 beautiful fan-like form. This is only reached at the 

 climax of the excitement, and lasts but for a moment. 



I have constantly differentiated between the birds 

 as " he " or " she," but of these distinctions I am far 

 from certain, and it must be clearly understood that 

 such distinction is here only based on actions, and is 

 even in contradiction to the indications of the plumage. 

 What slight differences do exist in the appearance of the 

 sexes may be said to consist in the varying length of the 

 crest and the strength or richness of the colour of the ruddy 



