344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



been entirely hidden in almost, if not exactly, the same spot, so 

 that its shallowness seems a little difi&cult to understand. They 

 look like two Penguins, and each, as they stand face to face, 

 must have the fullest view, not only of the front, or throatal, 

 part (which is silvery) of the long and straightly stretched-up 

 necks, but of the whole broad silver surface of the breast and 

 body. Immediately after they have assumed this upright atti- 

 tude, the hen-bird catches hold of the dangling end of the weed 

 which the male has brought up, and both, holding it between 

 them, make little waddling steps, now forwards, now backwards, 

 but not going more than a few inches either way. I would say 

 that they chasse'd — for it had that effect — but the motion was as 

 described, and not from side to side. Even though it is a dull 

 day, with no sun visible, the effect of this — of the two broad 

 silver shields — is most magnificent. They gleam dazzlingly, yet 

 softly ; but what must it be when the whole air and water is 

 dancing in glorious sunlight, as it has been all this week, whilst 

 the most tiresomely timed influenza was keeping me indoors ! 

 Whether it is a conscious display or not — and the part which 

 the weed here plays makes me doubt this — the birds could not 

 have adopted an attitude or a position in relation to one another 

 better adapted to show off the beauties of their plumage as a 

 whole. The entire surface of silky silver is exhibited by each 

 to each, whilst the crest and tippet is also much en evidence. 



Having remained thus — upright and moving backwards and 

 forwards as described — for quite an appreciable space of time, 

 both birds sink down again on the water, the piece of weed which 

 they had all the while been holding falling disregarded between 

 them, and the male sets off, full of intention, to the nest on the 

 opposite shore. The female follows, but she lags, pauses when 

 about half-way there, and is some way behind when her husband 

 reaches the nest, and, leaping up, lies along on it in the usual 

 manner. Having come up, she makes ready to ascend, then 

 pauses, swims out again, returns, and does the same several 

 times, the male all the while lying in the attitude he has at first 

 assumed. Then, however — after all these disappointments — and 

 having first looked round, as on former occasions, he begins to 

 move and arrange the weeds with his bill, and afterwards, taking 

 the water, rejoins the female. They float negligently on the 



