HABITS OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 18H 



(possibly he had been using it), and the second, because he was 

 near a contemplated one. 



May 28th. — At about 6.30 this morning the birds were not at 

 the nest, which they seemed to have abandoned, nor were they 

 building another. 



This was the last observation I could make on these birds, 

 for I had now to leave for the Shetlands. When I returned in 

 the latter part of July, they were swimming about with two young 

 ones, which, in size at any rate — their appearance was very 

 different — were getting well on towards maturity. On these I 

 made a few notes, which I have now lost. Though I saw much 

 to interest me in the Shetlands, I sometimes think that I should 

 have learnt more if I had stayed and devoted the whole inter- 

 vening period to these Grebes, that I was able to watch so closely 

 and continuously. In such watching an unbroken sequence is of 

 great importance. 



