308 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



awash, and seldom shows its white under parts below the 

 " turtle back." Though the bird frequently rests its head well 

 back on the shoulders, gracefully curving the neck, the usual 

 position of the slim neck is rather stiffly erect ; it appears 

 slender below the ample frill. It can swim fast on the 

 surface, the head forward, the straight neck inclined at about 

 45°, but if speed is necessary the bird dives; under-water 

 progression, when the legs strike out simultaneously and 

 laterally, is wonderfully swift. Except during courtship, when 

 it takes frequent short flights, it is little on the wing, though it 

 travels from mere to mere, or to the sea, flying high. In flight 

 a white wing bar is very conspicuous. I have, however, seen a 

 pair circling high, tippets expanded and legs held outward, 

 evidently in nuptial exercise. The outstretched neck sags a 

 little, but is raised, as are the feet, when the bird alights, 

 striking the water with its breast. Grebes resting on the water 

 frequently shake a leg above the back, or roll, their satiny 

 under parts flashing, as they preen their feathers. The dive is 

 almost invariably easy, a quick slip under water with little 

 surface disturbance, though occasionally the bird makes a 

 forward spring. The dive usually lasts from twenty to twenty- 

 five seconds. The leg action is quick, but its power is more 

 impressive than its speed ; in the forward stroke the lobed toes 

 lie together and the flattened tarsi are turned so as to cut the 

 water ; in the back stroke both expanded toes and flat tarsi 

 grip the water. Newts, molluscs, and insects are eaten, but 

 fish are the mainstay, and on fish the young are fed. The 

 Grebe is little on land, but it walks easily and gracefully on the 

 nest, its body well forward, and its tarsi raised at an angle. 



The " Tippet-Grebe," as it was formerly called, is a noisy 

 bird, especially in the pairing season. The most frequent call 

 is a repeated jik^ jik, jik\ often jicker^ jicker^ uttered by either 

 sex, and a loud discordant gorrr is common. This is often 

 uttered by a male when, thrashing the water with its wings, it 



