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usually covered with pond-weed, during the absence of the birds from the nest, but afterwards the nest 
is seldom, if ever, left by both birds, except under unusual circumstances. 
“ The New-Zealand bird, as might be expected from its more recent contact with civilized man, 
is far less shy than the European one, and easily discriminates between persons who may be dangerous 
and those who are not. The children of my manager frequently visit the nests during the progress 
of incubation, and as they have never injured the nests or eggs, or interfered mischievously with the 
birds themselves, they are allowed to approach quite close without the latter thinking it necessary to 
quit the nest. When they do so, they glide into the water with a quick but stealthy motion, diving 
at once and rising at a considerable distance from the nest. 
ti eggs do not appear to sutfer from immersion in water, even for a considerable time ; for, 
on one occasion three eggs which by some means had been thrown out of a nest, and had sunk below 
it to a depth of several feet, and which must have been immersed in the water for twenty-four hours 
at least, were replaced by one of the children, and the parent birds having sat upon them, two out 
of the three produced chicks 
“ When the water of the lake is rising in consequence of heavy rain the birds are seen busily 
engaged in procuring material and building up the nest so as to raise the eggs above the reach of the 
■flood. This added material is afterwards spread out after the water subsides ; but on some rare 
occasions the rise of the lake has been so great and so rapid that, the birds having been unable to 
meet it, the eggs have become addled. In such case no chicks have been produced that season. 
“ The young birds are of a greyish colour, striped with black, and, particularly when of a small 
size, are not easily detected whilst floating on the water. They take to the water immediately after 
being excluded from the egg, and both parents exhibit the greatest solicitude in tending and feeding 
them. When fatigued they are carried on the backs of the old birds, taking their station immediately 
behind the insertion of the wings, for which purpose the parent bird immerses itself deeper in the water. 
“ Mr. Yarrell, in his description of the Crested Grebe of Europe, says : — ‘ The parent birds are 
very careful of their young, taking them down with them for security under their wings when they 
dive.’ This is certainly not the case with the New-Zealand birds, for I have frequently observed the 
parents, both when engaged undisturbed in feeding the young ones, and when pursued by a boat for 
the express purpose of noting their habits. In no instance did I see the young ones being taken down 
by the parent when diving. It dives itself with great ease, and travels a considerable distance under 
water. From its inconspicuous colour and small size it easily eludes observation, more particularly 
if there be the slightest ripple on the water ; and this is quite sufficient protection for it. When 
engaged in feeding their young, each parent bird dives in succession, the young ones remaining on 
the surface, but with the body fully immersed, so as to leave nothing but the small head and neck 
visible. The habit of carrying the young on their backs and of diving in order to shake them off 
when the young birds exhibit a determined disinclination to leave their snug station, has probably 
led to the error referred to.” 
According to my experience the eggs of this species are very elliptical in foim, measuring 2‘25 
inches in length by 1’45 in breadth; a small example in my sons collection from Eotoiti in the 
South Island measures 2 inches in length by 1'4 in breadth. They are usually three in number, but 
sometimes more. When first deposited in the nest they are of a greenish-white colour, with a chalky 
surface, but they rapidly become discoloured and smudged, owing probably to some staining quality 
in the materials composing the nest. I have seen one so deeply discoloured as to be of a uniform 
reddish-brown colour. Whatever the cause may be, they are always found thickly smeared and stained 
with yellowish brown, and often presenting a very dirty appearance. 
