His observations on the ethology of the Great Crested Grebe , published in 1914 , was a landmark in avian field research . His invention of vivid labels for the rituals ( such as ` penguin dance ' , ` plesiosaurus race ' etc. ) made the ideas memorable and interesting to the general reader . His 1914 paper on the Great Crested Grebe , later published as a book , was a landmark in avian ethology ; his invention of vivid labels for the rituals ( such as ` penguin dance ' , ` plesiosaurus race ' etc. ) made the ideas memorable and interesting to the general reader .