266 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



composed of young ones, which do not in either season 

 extend their journey so far. The plumage of these birds 

 being still incomplete, and the colours not fixed, they 

 generally take one or two years before they are in a state 

 for breeding. They then choose those places where 

 adults of their own species do not build their nests, the 

 latter always expelling them from the districts, which are 

 to give birth to a new progeny. The route most fre- 

 quented by all the water birds is along the borders of the 

 sea. Those which come from Spain and the coast of 

 Barbary, appear to follow that only. The divers and 

 grebes, and other fresh-water fowl, which seldom fly 

 when occupied in the north with the cares of pairing and 

 breeding, are however endowed with great powers for 

 this action ; their flight is vigorous and long sustained ; 

 they even rise above the high mountains, for it is not 

 rare to find individuals of this species on the lakes of 

 the Alps where the waders and web-footed species are 

 often killed. 



