A SUBURBAN ESTATE 23 



round, then dives, and a few seconds later is up again 

 to swim towards the water-ranunculus, then, diving, 

 we lose sight of him. This is the male ; his mate is 

 sitting on her five eggs by the water's edge, and if 

 we watch the small bush under which she is sitting, 

 we shall see the male rise there or near the spot. He 

 comes up a few feet to the right, swims under a 



LITTLE GREBE 



clump of rushes, and takes another look round. See- 

 ing that there is no danger, he swims towards the 

 nest and offers his mate some food. The hen takes 

 this love-gift and then immediately dives. The 

 bird now glances in the direction of his thankless 

 mate, then climbs on to the nest and takes his turn 

 at sitting. In half an hour the hen returns. I 

 watched these birds for nearly three days, and seldom 



