THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK. 535 



that our apparition had taken refuge in a hole under the 

 bank. 



Early in spring, when Dabchicks leave the small streams 

 and watercourses for broader jDieces of water, they have been 

 observed to fly ; and during the building season also they 

 have been seen circling round in the air near the locality 

 of their intended nest. The nest itself is constructed of 

 weeds of all kinds, forming a thick mass raised but a few 

 inches above the surface of the water, and invariably far 

 enough from the bank to be inaccessible except by wading. 

 The Dabchick lays five or six long-shaped eggs, pointed at 

 either end, of a chalky white colour. These the bird, 

 when she leaves the nest, covers with weeds for the 

 purpose of concealment, and on her return continues the 

 work of incubation without removing the covering, so that 

 the eggs soon lose their white hue, and before the period 

 of hatching have become very dirty. The young birds 

 can ^vdm and dive immediately on leaving the egg. I 

 have never myself seen a Dabchick fly through the air or 

 walk on land, neither have I ever heard its note. The 

 latter, a low clicking and chattering sort of noise, it is 

 said to utter in spring. 



THE GEEAT ^^OETHEE^ DIYEE. 



COLYMBUS GLACIALIS. 



Bill, w^tli" the upper mandible, nearly straight, upwards of four inches in 

 length ; head and neck violet-black, with a double gorget white baiTed 

 with black ; upper parts black, spotted with white ; under parts white ; 

 biU black ; irides brown ; feet dusky, the membranes whitish. Young very 

 like the next, but distinguishable by their superior size and the direction of 

 the bill. Length tliirty-three inches. Eggs dark olive-brown, with a few 

 spots of purplish brown. 



The name Divers is, on the sea-coast, loosely applied to a 

 tribe of sea-birds, including the Grebes, Cormorants, and 

 other birds, Avhich, when pursued, place their safety in 

 diving rather than in flying. In works on natural history 

 the term is, however, employed to designate the geiius Co- 

 LYMBUS, and with great propriety ; for, however skilled 



