278 SYLBEOCYCLUS EUROP^US. 



resting on an eminence overlooking a small lake, margined 

 with marshy ground, and thinking it strange that nothing 

 was to he seen upon it excepting a pair of tame Swans, I 

 observed a small bird rise from near the edge, and fly in a 

 fluttering manner to a short distance, when it alighted on the 

 water, and instantly dived. In a very short time it rose, at 

 the distance of about twenty paces, floated a few moments, 

 turning briskly about, dived, emerged, and thus continued to 

 exercise itself. At this place the bottom of the lake was covered 

 with weeds of a greyish-green colour, among which some 

 straggling reeds sliot up. I saw that on diving it shot along 

 at the depth of a foot or two, flying with surprising speed. 

 Another individual now appeared, and both continued for a 

 long time to dive at intervals, passing in various directions, 

 and apparently pursuing insects or small fishes. Having 

 lost sight of them, I directed my eyes along the tufty margin 

 of the lake, and unexpectedly came upon a larger bird, which 

 showed much less activity, and which, from its peculiar move- 

 ments, I at once knew to be a Water-Hen. It advanced 

 slowly, jerking its upraised tail, and moving its head and 

 neck at each step, now waded among the sedges and reeds, 

 looking here and there, then floated on the water, seeming at 

 equal ease there, and thus went on quietly searching for food, 

 and picking up something now and then. The little Grebes, 

 on the contrary, kept entirely to the water, showed the great- 

 est activity, bobbed up like corks, sat lightly too, but, from 

 their peculiar form, rose less above the surface, and kept 

 their tails, or all they had for them, on the level of the water. 

 In swimming they did not advance by jerks, but stiffly, with 

 raised necks ; in diving they slipped beneath so gently that 

 the ripple Avhich they caused was little apparent ; and in 

 emerging they seemed to glide up without the slightest effort. 

 Now, all this is very trite, and yet who among our ornitholo- 

 gists has said so much of the Dabchick, common as the little 

 thing is in many parts of the country ? 



It is a curious and interesting little creature. When 

 surprised it eludes its enemy by slipping beneath the surface, 

 and not appearing until a good way ofl". It is seldom seen 

 to fly, and when it does get on wing it proceeds in a direct 



