454 MISS E - L - turner on the coot and crested grebe. 
tunities for observation of these interesting birds came to an 
end. Six weeks later when I again returned to Hickling, 
I frequently met the two young Grebes then in the hobble-de- 
hoy stage, enjoying life and youth to the full, disporting 
themselves up and down Heigham Sounds of an evening with, 
or without their parents. 
I could not see what benefit these two families of birds 
derived from their proximity. As far as my observation is 
concerned, Coots and Gi'ebes generally build near together, and 
perhaps, as both are exceedingly wary birds, some amount 
of mutual protection is gained. But as far as these birds 
were concerned there seemed to be no intercourse between 
them. In fact, the male Grebe kept strict guard over the 
space between the nests and never allowed the male Coot to 
come up that alley, but forced him to feed his mate on the 
left hand side of the nest, as in plate 6. Any infringement 
of this rule was promptly punished. The female Coot seemed 
to regard the covering and uncovering of the Grebe’s eggs 
as a piece of unnecessary caution, judging from her expression. 
I will add, in conclusion, that all the time I was trying to 
photograph these birds a very strong north wind was blowing, 
which made it impossible for me to venture on a lengthy 
exposure, even had the rapid movements of the birds allowed 
of this, so that I am sure the reproducer of these plates is to 
be congratulated on getting the best possible results from 
considerably under-exposed negatives. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
No. i. Coot on nest and Grebe uncovering her eggs. 
No. 2. Showing the unusual height of the nests. 
No. 3. Coot on nest with two young ones, and female Grebe inspecting her 
newly hatched young one. 
No. 4. Female Grebe removing egg-shell from nest. 
No. 5. Coot visiting Grebe’s nest during the latter’s absence. 
No. 6. Both Coots bringing food to their young ones. 
No. 7. Coot covering her young and male Grebe swimming away with 
chicks .under his wing. 
No. 8. Female Grebe feeding chick under her wing. 
