402 COLYMBID^E. 



out, and return early in spring. The nest is frequently 

 built in an exposed situation, before the young reeds have 

 sprouted sufficiently to conceal it. When the nest is 

 plundered the bird immediately makes another in the vicinity 

 and lays again. The birds are more prone to take flight 

 in spring than at other seasons of the year, but as soon as 

 the eggs are deposited in the nest, both male and female 

 seem to trust entirely to their powers of diving for preser- 

 vation, and very seldom show themselves. They generally 

 dive away from their nest on being disturbed, and thus 

 frequently escape observation ; a slight vibration among 

 the reeds being the only sign of their departure. The nest 

 is composed of half-rotten decaying water-plants, nearly 

 level with the surface of the water, and is generally very 

 wet. The eggs are usually four in number, white, and two 

 inches two lines long, by one inch and six lines in breadth. 

 The parent birds are very careful of their young, taking 

 them down with them for security under their wings 

 when they dive. They feed them with young eels, and 

 other small fish, some small Crustacea, and a portion of 

 vegetable food. Tadpoles and small frogs are favourite 

 diet with them. 



A fine adult specimen belonging to the Ornithological 

 Society, has been kept on the canal in St. Jameses Park 

 more than twelve months. This bird has carried a good 

 crest, unaltered throughout the whole of last winter ; and 

 at this time, May 1842, the crest is of large size and fine 

 in colour. Unfortunately the Society possess but a single 

 example of the species, apparently a fine and old male. 

 This bird does not associate with any of the other nume- 

 rous water-fowl on the canal, he swims low in the water, 

 and generally keeps out in the middle of the widest 

 part, frequently diving for food, occasionally preening his 



