170 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



companion — a male in splendid plumage.* When the two birds 

 meet they remain for some moments at rest on the water fronting 

 each other, their heads and necks close together, whilst each 

 tdtes the other's bill with his own. They then swim down to a 

 part of the water nearer to me, followed by the odd male bird, 

 who when the others pause remains near about them, having a 

 somewhat " out of it " appearance. The accepted male, which I 

 believe to be the one whose nest has been destroyed, now swims 

 towards him with neck drawn in, head lowered, and bill pointing 

 straight forward just above the water-line. All at once, and 

 when still a little way off, he dives ; a moment or two afterwards 

 there is a sudden start and retreat on the part of the rival bird, 

 the other one reappearing on the surface a little behind him. In 

 a minute or two this happens again, and this time it is more 

 pronounced, the start of the attacked bird being much more 

 sudden, his retreat more alarmed and rapid, whilst his enemy 

 emerges just where he has been, having evidently attacked him 

 under the water. Once more, about half an hour afterwards, this 

 mode of warfare is exhibited, if possible, still more clearly. 

 During the interval the discomfited bachelor bird has remained 

 alone near the bank where the destroyed nest has been, and the 

 married couple now swim directly down upon him. The male is 

 in advance, and as he approaches he again exhibits the angry 

 mien, holding the head low, with the neck drawn in and the beak 

 pointed straightly forward, looking like a stiletto. But he 

 swerves from his course, and seems now to be swimming towards 

 the female, who has glided out to one side, and rides at ease — a 

 spectator — when he dives. This, however, must have been a 

 ruse, for a few seconds afterwards the unhappy persecuted male 

 not only starts, but rises in great confusion out of the water, and 

 flies right away to a distant part of the lake. From the moment 

 of his flight I watch for the reappearance of the other, and, sure 

 enough, he comes up shortly in the place, or approximately the 

 place, that has just been left vacant. He swims about for a little 

 with the head still lowered, and in a proud sort of way ; then, 

 raising it, goes to the female, and there is now between the two 

 the same scene of gratulation as before, but much more marked. 

 They again front each other with their heads and necks almost 



* Yet not more so than the other male. All three, indeed, looked snperb. 



