60 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



received the charge, he flew forward off the rock and 

 downwards to the water, resorting to their usual and 

 often too-successful plan of diving amongst the sub- 

 merged seaweed. On first rising to the surface, how- 

 ever, he showed certain symptons of being most hard 

 hit, though of not giving up the contest without, what 

 turned out, an extremely exciting struggle. Still able 

 to exert his wonderful powers of diving, but too weak 

 to use his wings either in the way of progression or 

 descent, he led us a chase of no short duration. While 

 I worked the oars, Joseph, boat-hook in hand, stood at 

 the head of the boat, ready to strike whenever he 

 appeared within reach at the surface of the water. 

 After a few ineffectual struggles, he reappeared, dived, 

 and dived again, more and more exhausted, but was 

 at last dispatched, and safely secured and placed on 

 board. He turned out to be a very first-rate speci- 

 men of his class, nicely and cleanly shot, and having 

 a very fine topknot or crest which I had good 

 reason to expect would be found wanting (as these 

 birds were now fast casting the same) fully and 

 maturely developed. 



We now rowed back to the spot, and found the 

 female still sitting on the nest, but wavering whether 

 to stay or to depart. I fired, and she too performed a 

 similar manoeuvre, flying down to the water, which 

 involved another chase; but being more severely 

 wounded, she succumbed within a shorter period. 



