72 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



This interesting water-nymph, the grebe, wears 

 a wonderfully graceful and imposing head-dress. 

 Both the male and female grebe possess this dou- 

 ble-pointed group of feathers on the crown of 

 the head, resembling nothing so much as horns, as 

 the bird darts through the water and like a flash 

 of lightning dives below, searching for food, or hid- 

 ing from danger. It even sleeps upon the water, 

 preens and oils its feathers, suns itself, and yet man- 

 ages to remain in the same position. This is done 

 by means of its feet, or paddles, which are con- 

 stantly working; during a storm they must work 

 extra hard to keep the bird's position. 



The land is not suited to the grebe's needs, as 

 its legs are placed so far back on the body that it 

 is forced to walk upright. This is very awkward 

 indeed ; but when swimming, the grebe has no rival 

 for poise and dignity : its neck is held in a graceful 

 upright position, and it can dive with no noise and 

 as silently come up again. However, if threatened 

 with danger, it plunges beneath the waves like a 

 frolicking boy in a mill-pond. 



Its real hunting ground is at the bottom of the 

 water where small fish and insects are plentiful. 

 It loves solitude, and will rarely remain in the 

 company of even ducks or coots. The most singu- 

 lar fact in the bird's whole life is its strange and 



