COURTSHIP OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 535 
by the cock. Of the “ incitations to pair” (when one bird goes 
into the passive attitude), seven were made by the hen and one 
by the cock. In the case of this one, the cock ascended the nest 
directly ; as to the hen, on two occasions she was already on the 
nest, on three she ascended the nest directly, and on two she 
assumed the attitude on the open water. 
1901. (Only a pairing-platform available.) 
(a) One bird sitting. (No instances, because the birds apparently 
do not sit on the pairing-platform.) 
(b) Both birds near the platform. No record. (There are two 
doubtful records where he first notices the birds already at 
the bed of weeds where the platform is, but here probably 
he had simply not noticed their previous approach.) 
(c) Both birds approach the platform together from a distance. 
(Fifteen records, counting the two doubtful ones.) 
(i.) One bird swims straight to the platform, ascends, and 
assumes the passive attitude. 
This was seen ten times ; once it was done by the hen, the 
other nine times by the cock. 
(ii.) One bird assumes the passive attitude on the water near 
the platform. 
This was observed five times; twice it was the female, once the 
male, and twice the sex was doubtful. (Here, therefore, there 
is not the preponderance of incitations by the male that was 
seen in (i.)). 
On April 25th the hen assumed the passive attitude, and 
nothing further happened (immediately). 
On May 11th the hen went into the passive attitude, upon 
which the cock followed suit by going into the attitude too. 
Some time afterwards the scene was repeated, but with the parts 
played by the sexes reversed (cf. 1900 (6) & (9), above). 
This passive attitude, adopted successively by both birds on 
the water, might or might not lead to one of them ascending 
the platform and there assuming the passive attitude. 
Very often an incitation might have no immediate result, 
but after a short pause further pairing-actions might be gone 
through. I will quote a couple of Selous’s records for whole 
mornings. 
April 25th. 
(a) (There have already been several approaches to the neigh- 
bourhood of the nest, and several bouts of shaking.) 
The hen goes into the passive attitude near the nest ; 
but there is no result, and both swim away. 
(3) “* Very soon afterwards” they return, and the cock goes 
straight to the platform, where he assumes the passive 
