115 



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

 circumstances. 



Tlie New Zealand bird, as might be expected from its moi-e recent contact 

 ■with civilized man, is far less shy than the Eui-opean one, and easily dis- 

 criminates between persons who may be dangerovis, 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. When they do 

 so, they glide into the water with a 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 time, 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 i-apid, that the birds having been 

 unable to meet it, the eggs have become addled. In such case no chicks have 

 been produced that season. 



The young birds are of a greyish green colour, striped with black, and, 

 particularly when of 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 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 imder their wings when they dive." This is certainly not 

 the case with the New Zealand birds, for I have frequently observed the pai'ent 

 birds, both when engaged undisturbed in feeding the young ones, and when 

 piu'sued by a boat for the expi-ess purpose of noting their habits. In no 

 instance did I see the yovmg one being taken down by the parent when divine. 

 It dives itself with great ease, and travels a considerable distance under water. 

 From its inconspicuous coloiu- and small size it easily eludes observation, more 

 particularly if there be the slightest ripple on the water, and this is quite 

 sufficient protection for it. When engaged in feeding their young, each 



