A few days later I saw the young bird, which was now fullwinged, trying to fly.
January 7th, 1901.—I saw two old birds on the tank (the absentee having evidently returned) on good terms, meeting and chattering; no sexual display, however, though both are in full plumage, equally showing rufous on neck. [I have since watched them through another winter (1901-1902), and seen them retain full plumage all the time.] Young bird apart, flying once or twice, as well as an adult.
March 2nd.—Both old birds still present, in summer plumage, and carrying nesting material. When courting, the bigger bird chatters most, and expands the flank-feathers slightly. A new bird, in almost complete winter[1] or immature plumage, which I put on, was chased by one old bird at least, as their young one has always been of late when they are near it. I saw this not long since, when threatened, stoop supplicating, as when about to be fed.
After this I took no systematic notes, but one or two occurrences which I have not dated seem to me to deserve notice. On one occasion I saw one of the young—then very small, and being carried by one parent while the other hunted for them—trying to swallow a large bright red dragonfly, which was obviously too big for it. The parent carrying it, on this, turned round and took the insect away.
On another occasion the carrying parent, on my approach, swam away from the nest with the young on its back, and the other hastened to it, and there was much chattering. Then the unburdened parent swam to the nest, made a peck at it—I being there all the time on the platform overlooking it—and then went back to its partner, when there was more chattering. The whole performance looked as if this bird had inquired as to the cause of
- ↑ It is obvious, from what has been said above, that the so-called winter plumage is merely that of immaturity in this species. I have never seen the pair of birds whose actions I have here noted in any but full adult summer plumage at any time. It is possible, of course, that this pair are abnormal, or very old individuals, but there is no proof of this, and they are free birds leading a perfectly normal life in every way. (See B.M. Cat. vol. xxvi, p. 517, on Podicipes tricolor.)
