THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 719.— May, 1901 



AN OBSERVATIONAL DIARY OF THE HABITS— 

 MOSTLY DOMESTIC— OF THE GREAT CRESTED 

 GREBE {PODICIPES CRIST ATUS). 



By Edmund Selous. 



A'pril 27th, 1900. — I noticed to-day a pair of these birds 

 swimraing about together on a large sheet of water some miles 

 from where I live. I did not then, through the glasses, see any- 

 thing resembling a nest. 



May 3nZ. — This morning one of the birds is sitting upon a 

 large structure of weeds which I imagine to be the finished nest. 

 It would seem, however, that some touches are added even after 

 incubation — or, at least, the laying of the eggs — has commenced, 

 for now the other bird is swimming to the nest, and, when within 

 a little distance of it, dives, and, coming up with some weeds in 

 its bill, lays them at the edge of it. He then swims out to the 

 same place, dives again, and returns with some more ; and this 

 he does five times in succession. I now go nearer, and, though I 

 am still a considerable distance off, the bird upon the nest leaves 

 it and swims away. I sit down against a tree, and she soon 

 returns, and, giving a long lithe leap out of the water on to the 

 mass of weeds, again settles herself down upon it. She sits 

 quietly, and must certainly be either incubating or in process of 

 laying the eggs. Yet every now and then she bends the head 

 forward, and with the beak arranges, or at least moves about, the 



Zool. Mh ser. vol. V., May^ 1901. o 





