NATURAL HISTORY. 



3L7 



PODICEPJ5. 



1 



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Minor (Lat. lesser), the Little Grebe cr Dalchick. 



The DABCHICK or LITTLE GREBE is veiy common in mosl 

 parts of England, and is spread over Europe and Asia. It is* 

 easily alarmed, and instantly dives, after which it is of little use 

 to look for the bird. Even in a small pond where tame Dal - 

 chicks are kept, if they are startled at anything, they all disaj - 

 pear as if by magic, and reappear in the same mysterious mai - 

 ner. Even when confined in the limited space of a small pond , 

 the sharpest eye cannot detect them as they hide under floating 

 herbage, or are sheltered by an overhanging bank. 



It is easily domesticated, and is often seen placed as an or- 

 nament in lakes, or even in ponds, where it swims about very 

 merrily, and seems to enjoy playing a game at hide-and-seek 

 with any observer who is attempting to watch its movements. 



