A LABRADOR SPRING 
round, the neck correspondingly small, and as 
he swims forward the head is thrust out in front 
close to the water, occasionally dabbing at it. 
Suddenly he springs forward elevating his 
breast, and at the same time enters on the most 
typical and essential part of the performance. 
The neck is stretched up, and the bill, pointing 
to the zenith, is opened to emit a harsh, rasping, 
double note, zzee at, vibrating and searching in 
character. The head is then quickly snapped 
back until the occiput touches the rump, whence 
it is brought forward again with a jerk to the 
normal position. As the head is brought to 
its place, the bird often springs forward, kicking 
the water out behind, and displaying like a flash 
of flame the orange coloured legs. This appears 
to be the complete performance, and the female 
although usually passive, sometimes responds 
by protruding her head close to the water in 
front, and then bringing it up so that it also 
points to the zenith. Further than this, I 
have not seen her go. It must be remembered 
that even as late as March there are many young 
males whose plumage resembles that of the 
female, although the males are of larger size, yet 
it is often difficult to distinguish them from the 
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