ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATION IN ICELAND. 215 



female Grebe, after being for some time out of my sight and 

 knowledge on the lake, reappeared in the little nook or bay of it 

 before-mentioned, which I am sure now is the birds' accustomed 

 trysting-place. Before very long the male appeared far out on 

 the water, and with several long dives was soon at the same 

 spot. He made his last emergence close in at shore, and then 

 swam out again towards the female, with his head and neck held 

 straight out before him in one line on the water, the beak driven 

 through it like a ram. She awaited him in alert, sprightly 

 mood, and when he was a few yards off, suddenly flew away from 

 him over the water, coming down on it again at a little dis- 

 tance. There was now a quiescent interval, the female slowly 

 approaching the male, but undesignedly, as it were, and without 

 anything marked in her manner, till a similar but also less marked 

 advance, on his part, towards her, ended in the mutual flight of 

 both. I think the details were that when the male had reached 

 a certain degree of nearness to the female, she flew at him, 

 coquettishly, and he away from her ; but it was so quick and 

 sudden, and so much, in appearance, at the same moment, that 

 I am not sure of this. The pair flew thus into and up the 

 stream, and came down upon it when they had gone a little 

 way, behind the curve of the nearer bank, which quite hid 

 them. I hurried down the hill again to my observatory, and, 

 before I had got into place, had the satisfaction of seeing them 

 rounding the second bend of the stream. They swam in a most 

 purposeful and mind-made-up manner, side by side and close 

 together, pressing on at top speed, and uttering a variety of 

 sounds which I find it impossible to retain in my mind, and 

 cannot therefore transcribe. They were not loud, but not low 

 either — distinctly audible at a fair distance — and not harsh in 

 character. The pair soon came opposite to where I lay con- 

 cealed amidst the stones on the hillside, pressed through the 

 rushes, and were at the nest. They swam close about it, peered 

 up at it, dived, and then the female, springing on to it, began to 

 arrange the loose-lying materials, and bend down the growing 

 flags amongst them.* Then, assuming the invitatory attitude, 

 she obviously awaited the male. He, however, not ascending 



* So far as I remember, I have not seen the Little or Great Crested 

 Grebe do this. 



