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the stem of the Car ex virgata, beneath the drooping leaves of which it was 

 perfectly concealed from casual observation. Situated just within the swampy- 

 side of a small lake, it was raised a few inches, only, above the water-level. 

 We have invariably found two eggs to a nest ; they are greenish- white, 

 frequently with wart-like protuberances, and more or less weed-stained. 



Eggs from the same nest occasionally differ a little in size, as may be 

 observed from the following measurements : length 1 inch 9 lines, by a diameter 

 of 1 inch ; whilst another egg, from the same nest, measured in length 1 inch 

 6 1 lines, with the same diameter as in the longer specimen. The lobed foot of 

 the Grebe is a remarkable peculiarity, assisting it to swim and dive with great 

 rapidity ; in its habits it appears much more restless and fidgetty than the 

 large Crested Grebe. The young is greyish-brown on the back, warm-rufous 

 on the neck and breast, lighter on the abdomen ; the head is beautifully mottled 

 with black, and rich reddish-brown alternately. When alanned on the water 

 the parent birds have a knack of tucking the, young under the wing, so that 

 its head is alone visible ; they dive and swim, thus encumbered, with the 

 greatest ease. 



ISTo. 100. — Podiceps Hectori, Buller. 

 Crested Grebe. 



One of the most ornamental of the water-fowl, that add so much to the 

 interest of the lake scenery of our Southern Alps. In April, 1856, we first 

 made its acquaintance, on a small lake, now called Lake Selfe. It appears to 

 move about in pairs, as a single couple is usually found (or rather was to be 

 found) associating with nearly every group of Ducks that dotted the little 

 secluded bays of the lakes. 



The Grebe swims low in the water, with a certain air of demure gravity, 

 which affords a marked contrast to the rapid movements of most of the other 

 natatorial birds, with which it so frequently associates. 



We have found the nest in November and December. The structure is 

 large, and very solidly built of pieces of decayed Carex virgata, raised about a 

 foot above the level of the water; its sloping sides give a ready means of 

 reaching the basin-like depression on the top, in which the eggs are deposited. 

 (See Plate 4, Fig. 5.) In several instances we have observed that the nest 

 had been constructed on the top of an old stump of Carex virgata, situated in 

 a shallow part of a lake, distant from twenty to one hundred yards from the 

 shore. Last Spring, in the little boat-harbour on Lake Coleridge, belonging 

 to Mr. Oakden, there happened to have been thrown a quantity of cut flax, 

 which the bight of a chain prevented from drifting out to the lake ; a pair of 

 Crested Grebes built on this floating mass, and succeeded in rearing their 

 young ; it should be added, this harbour is not much used, and the proprietor 

 is a careful protector of our native birds. We have known three instances, in 

 which the nests have been submerged by the rising waters of the lake, an 

 indication that such mishaps must frequently occur, which may perhaps in 

 some measure account for the comparative rareness of this Grebe. 



The eggs, three in number, are at first greenish-white, but very quickly- 

 become stained over, entirely, with yellowish-brown, from the water and 

 weedy slime adhering to this bird's flat lobed foot. Eggs elliptical in form, 

 measuring through the axis 2 inches 4 lines, with a breadth of 1 inch and 

 nearly 7 lines. We believe that an interval of two, perhaps three, days occurs 

 between the laying of each egg. The young bird is pale-brown with dark 

 brown marks. During incubation the Grebe maintains an upright posture, 

 with its long graceful neck held erect, so motionless its attitude, that at a dis- 

 tance it rather resembles a stick than anything endued with life. Watchful 

 and shy, it noiselessly dives, immediately it discovers itself observed. The 



