HABITS OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 179 



the female not only ascended the nest, but lay along it as before, 

 with the same evident intention of receiving the male, and the 

 same non-result. 



At 5.30 a.m. I find the birds not working, but floating idly 

 on the water. They are now side by side, each with the long 

 neck drawn back, so that the head rises like a button from the 

 centre of the back, making them look like pork- or game-pies 

 floating about. 



6.8. — Both now swimming to the nest, and when just off 

 the bed of weeds where it is situated, first one and then another 

 of them lies on the water, with the beak held down in a some- 

 what curious manner, as though minutely observing it, for 

 the beaks point in its direction. It is the female who does 

 this first, and I thought she wished to receive the male, for 

 her attitude was just the same as when, upon the nest, she un- 

 doubtedly intended this. She soon desists, however, and it is 

 then that the male assumes the same attitude, in which he con- 

 tinues longer. 



At 6.30 the male goes again to the nest, and remains about 

 it, but never going quite up to it, for some five or six minutes ; 

 then swims again to the female, who has not accompanied him. 

 The interest taken by the male in the nest has been very marked 

 throughout, more so even — in appearance, at any rate — than 

 that of the female, though in the actual building of it she has 

 been yet more efficient than he. He has always led the way to 

 it, and yesterday — as noted — he continued building longer than 

 she did. 



6.54. — Male at nest as before, and begins now to dive and 

 add to it. After a minute or two he ascends the nest, and I 

 shall now — as hitherto — record exactly what I saw. After 

 standing a little with straddled legs, he sinks down, and lies 

 along the nest in just the same manner, as far as I can see, 

 as the female has done, once before actual or attempted pairing, 

 and many times, as prepared for and wishing it. The female 

 is now swimming up, and, on arriving at the nest, she acts 

 exactly as the male has done when contemplating ascending it in 

 order to pair with her. Both in action, manner, and strongly 

 implied intent the sexes seem to be reversed, yet there is no 



p2 



