GREBES AND DIVERS, PENGUINS, TUBE-NOSED BIRDS 



41 



Fhu, h ir. F. i'J«.;:] [L..£k:,„ B^xx^rJ 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE 



Ycur.g grebes in doivn are beautifully striped 



the ' antelope ' unfolded his broad black-tipped 

 wings and flapped off, revealed at length as a 

 whooping (white) crane." 



Another very remarkable species is the 

 Crowned Craxe. This is an African species, and 

 takes its name from the tuft of curiousl}' modified 

 feathers on the top of the head. The coloured 

 plate gives a good idea of its general appearance. 



The Seriema 



This is a very hawklike-looking bird ; indeed, 

 by some ornithologists it has been regarded as 

 closely allied to the Hawks and Eagles, and 

 more especially to the Secretary-bird. Really, 

 however, it is a very ancient kind of crane. 



The Trl'MPETERS, the COURLANS, the Kagu, 

 and the SlX-KlTrERX are other ornithological 



puzzles. Concerning the precise affinities of these 

 birds much is }-et to be learnt; they are, how- 

 e\-er, undoubtedly related to the Cranes. The 



last mentioned is a small bird, with wonderfLilly beautiful wings, which it displa\-s with great 



effect to its mate during the courting-season. 



CHAPTER y\ 



GREBES JXB DIfERS, PEyCUIXS, JXD TUBE-NOSED BIRDS 



T^ 



THE GREBES AND DIVERS 



HEGrebes and Divers 

 _ are representatives 



J_ of an exceedingly 

 ancient t\'pe, and are in many 

 ways besides very interesting. 

 BotharecommonBritish birds. 

 The greater part of their lives 

 is spent upon the water, and 

 to suit this aquatic existence 

 their bodies are specially 

 modified. One of the principal 

 features of this modification 

 is seen in the position of the 

 legs. These, by a shortening 

 of the thigh-bones in the 

 grebes, leave the body so far 

 back that when the bird walks 

 the body is held verticalh'. 

 With the di\-ers walking has 

 become an impossibilit)-, and 

 they can onl}' move on land 

 on their bellies, pushing 

 themselves along with the 

 feet. Both grebes and divers 



BLACK-THROATED DIVERS 

 T/ieie "Very handiame birds breed in Scotland 



