COURTSHIP OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 533 
*¢ When just in front of each other one dives and brings up some 
weed, which they both discuss in the friendliest manner, pulling 
it about, and perhaps eating a little.” (2) (p. 340) :—‘ Once one 
of them—I think the male—comes up with something in his bill, 
which he dabbles about on the surface and seems to sport with, 
the other coming close up and appearing to take an interest.” 
This something Selous thinks was a bunch of weed. These 
actions may bear some relation to the weed-trick, and at all 
events, even if the main purpose was feeding, the common par- 
ticipation of the two birds denotes that some sexual flavour 
attached to the act. More light is needed on the habit. (It is, 
perhaps, connected with the arranging of the weeds on the nest 
by both birds together, as described on Selous’s p. 162.) 
Relations of the pair with other birds of the same species. 
For some days a solitary male appeared on the water where 
the single pair was living. The hen of the pair apparently * 
indulged in a little flirtation with the odd cock—a bout of 
shaking. This roused the jealousy of the rightful husband, who 
approached in the usual threatening ‘ Dundreary ” attitude, and 
dived to attack the third bird from below the surface, repeating 
the diving attack a second time. Later the rightful couple were 
together and apparently bore. down purposefully upon the odd 
male. The hen rested, while the cock drove his rival away 
by the attacking dive, and then returned, to go through an 
“excited” bout of shaking with his mate; first, however, “he 
swims about for a little, with the head still lowered, and in a 
proud sort of way.” 
Thus, as far as jealousy is concerned, Selous’s observations are 
in agreement with mine. 
Pairing-Actions. 
The most important of Selous’s observations are concerned 
with nest-building and pairing; indeed, the full sequence of the 
pairing-actions seems to have been witnessed by his eyes alone. 
I have already given a general account of his observations and 
the deductions to be drawn from them. Here I have simply 
tabulated some of his detailed descriptions. 
1900. 
(a) One bird on the nest. 
(1) May 3rd. The hen was on the nest; the cock swam up and 
attempted to pair. There is no record of the hen previously 
“going” into the passive position, but as this was at the 
very beginning of Selous’s observations, he may well not 
have grasped its significance. 
* T say apparently, for Selous is not quite certain as to the birds’ identity, This 
description, however, agrees excellently with my observations. 
