ORDER OF DIVING BIRDS 



Order Pygopodes 



OST aquatic of all our birds are the Diving Birds. Not only are their bodies 

 made so that they can propel themselves on land only with difficulty, but their 

 food consists entirely of fish and other aquatic animals. Their flesh is coarse 

 and unpalatable. They are the lowest form of bird life and are the most 

 i \l>^M^< closely allied to the reptiles, from which birds are supposed to have originated. 

 Birds of this order spend nearly their entire time in the water. Thev nest 

 on the ground or on rocks. The young are covered with down when hatched, 

 and as soon as this natal down is dry they are able to take to the water. 



The scientific name given to this order, Pygopodes, is from two Greek 

 words meaning " rump " and "foot," and refers to the position of the legs 

 in relation to the rest of the body — a characteristic peculiar to this order. 

 The tibia or drumstick is buried beneath the skin and feathers, bringing the heel joint close to 

 the tail. The birds, therefore, sit or stand in an almost perpendicular position, and walk 

 with great difficulty and awkwardness. The toes are either webbed or broadly lobed. Both 

 body and neck are elongated, giving a boat-shaped appearance to the bird. The bill is 

 homy and pointed and has no pouch ; it can be opened very wide. The wings are very 

 short, scarcely reaching the base of the tail. The latter is never long, and sometimes it is 

 so rudimentary as to make the bird appear tailless. The plumage is dense, and there is no 

 sexual variation in color. The body is almost entirely encased in a layer of fat. 



According to the development of the tail, the Diving Birds are divided into two sub- 

 orders: the first is the Colyinbi, and contains the one family of Grebes; and the second is the 

 Cepphi, and contains two families, the Loons and the Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 



GREBES 



Order Pygopodes: suborder Colyiubi: family ('olyujbidcr 



HE Grebes are much less pronounced, and consequently less interesting bird 

 characters, than are the Loons, though both families have some of the same 

 physical characteristics, notably skill in the water and clumsiness on land. 

 They are smaller than the Loons and are more likely to be found in inland 

 bodies of fresh water, though their migrations take them to the sea where 

 they are by no means entirely out of their element. Like the Loons, when 

 pursued the Grebes tr>' to escajje by diving and swimming under water, where 

 they propel themselves by their feet; and generally they show decided dis- 

 inclination to take to their wings, though they are swift and strong flyers. 

 Grebes undoubtedly dive with remarkable quickness, but, as in the case of 

 the Loons (and for the same reasons), their cleverness in this operation has 

 been much exaggerated, as at any reasonable distance they are quite unable to dodge a rifle 

 bullet, especially if it be propelled by smokeless powder. 



Grebes have feet which are lobate, that is, each toe has one or more separate mem- 

 branes which are joined only at the base. The toes are flattened and the nails short and 

 round. The shanks are so flattened as to be nearly blade-like. The bill, which is cone- 

 shajjed, is about the length of the head. The head is generally rufTed or crested, at least 

 in the breeding season, and the neck long. The wings are short and the tail is invisible. 

 The plumage is compact, smooth, and rather hair-like; when well dressed by the bird it is 

 absolutely waterproof, and, therefore, Grebes, though water birds, are never wet. The 



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