356 



in general colour to the ground on which they are deposited, as not to be detected without close 



search . 



When 



" Both the male and female Grebe assist in the labour of incubation, although I believe 

 that the chief part of this task devolves upon the female, and that she is only relieved by her 

 partner for the purpose of enabling her to feed. Before the actual work of incubation com- 

 mences, the eggs are usually covered with pond-weed during the absence of the birds from the 

 nest; but afterwards the nest is seldom, if ever, left by both birds, except under unusual 



circumstances. 



" The New-Zealand bird, as might be expected from its more recent contact with civilized 



man, is far less shy than the European one, and easily discriminates between persons who may be 



dangerous and those who are not. The children of my manager frequently visit the nests during 



the progress of incubation; and as they have never injured the nests or eggs, or interfered 



mischievously with the birds themselves, they are allowed to approach quite close without the 



latter thinking it necessary to quit the nest. 



quick but stealthy motion, diving at once, and rising at a considerable distance from the nest. 



" The eggs do not appear to suffer from immersion in water, even for a considerable lime ; 

 for on one occasion, three eggs which by some means had been thrown out of a nest, and had 

 sunk below it to a depth of several feet, and which must have been immersed in the water for 

 twenty-four hours at least, were replaced by one of the children, and, the parent birds having sat 

 upon them, two out of the three produced chicks. 



" When the water of the lake is rising, in consequence of heavy rain, the birds are seen 

 busily engaged in procuring material and building up the nest so as to raise the eggs above the 

 reach of the flood. This added material is afterwards spread out after the water subsides ; but 

 on some rare occasions the rise of the lake has been so great and so rapid that, the birds having 

 been unable to meet it, the eggs have become addled. In such cases no chicks have been pro- 

 duced that season. 



"The young birds are of a greyish colour, striped with black, and, particularly when 

 of a small size, are not easily detected whilst floating on the water. They take to the water 

 immediately after being excluded from the egg ; and both parents exhibit the greatest solicitude 

 in tending and feeding them. When fatigued, they are are carried on the backs of the old birds, 

 taking their station immediately behind the insertion of the wings, for which purpose the parent 

 bird immerses itself deeper than usual in the water. 



" Mr. Yarrell, in his description of the Crested Grebe of Europe, says: — ' The parent birds 

 are very careful of their young, taking them down with them for security under their wings when 

 they dive.' This is certainly not the case with the New-Zealand birds ; for I have frequently 

 observed the parents, both when engaged undisturbed in feeding the young ones, and when 

 pursued by a boat for the express purpose of noting their habits. In no instance did I see the 

 young one being taken down by the parent when diving. It dives itself with great ease, and 

 travels a considerable distance under water. From its inconspicuous colour and small size it 

 easily eludes observation, more particularly if there be the slighest ripple on the water ; and this 

 is quite sufficient protection for it. When engaged in feeding their young, each parent bird 

 dives in succession, the young ones remaining on the surface, but with the body fully immersed, so as 



to 



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