886 



"III': HORNED C.RI'.BE. 



a ]janting hinl. An in>tant i^k-aiii as of fins near llic hinl's hrak tells yi>u that 

 aniither fish has gDiie to (ifche; hut jiist how yon cannot tell, tor it was all so 

 sncldcn. The diver pauses a nioinent to consider the danger of the kindly eyes 

 that stare down at him, recalls that art is long and fish are tleeting, and is off 

 again hot-foot to urge the iuerr\- chase under water. 



The\' are innocent, liai)]>\-. little souls, these Hornies, and one is tein])te(l 

 to look upon theni as children, es])ecially if he is used to the grown-itp West- 

 erns. Once I stole U]Joti a little company >at early morn, as liiey rested after a 

 long inigration flight. Six of the dainty creatures 

 were dancing hefore me on the gentl\' ruffled surface 

 of the water-works pond. They saw the hird- 

 watcher plainly enough .some thirty feel away, hut 

 accepted him as a part of hountiful nature and ga\e 

 themselves to slumher. In sleeping the_\- dr;iw the 

 head back and settle it Ijetween the shoulders, thrust- 

 ing the bill down ])recisely to the right. Xow and 

 then one lifts its head and describes a wary circle of 

 reconnaissance. l>ut is soon reassured and resumes 

 its slumliers. While taking these cat-naps in ni}' 

 presence tlie\' swim ;md whirl automatically and 

 maintain their general position, as tho gifted with 

 doul)le consciousness. There are five males in the 

 compan\" witli one female, and the white of their 

 breasts and throats glistens jjurel}' in the mi)rning 

 sun, for it is autumn: and I steal away with a sense 

 of prix'ilege as tho I h.ad seen fairies caught out of 

 bounds. 



In the spring lime one ma}' inspect the wedding 

 garments from no more rimiaiitic a position than the |;;^«5?t— - - j 



wharf again, before the northern bridal tour is un- 

 dertaken. At such a time one rubs his eyes to see 

 the tr.ansformation wrought upon our modest gra\- 

 friends of autumn. Tawny, chestnut, chocc^late, 

 wine-red and shin\' black are now in evidence, and 



the extraordin;ir\' ruff, or aureole, wdiich surrounds the lieail. detr.acts ma- 

 teriallv from the soletiinitv of the occasion. 



Birds of this S])ecies take to wing readih wuh i ir wuhout provocation, 

 and altho they have the grel)e habit of thrnsliug the legs out straight behind, 

 thev are not ungraceful fivers. The wing movement is iptite rapid and the 

 white wing-patches appear prominently in tlight. 



It is not fair to call these birds gregarious and indeed they are usually 

 (|uite independent, but common tastes make conimon cause and 1 ha\e seen 



s 



:^ 



--jas.""''"**'* — - — 



t'hotj by tlu- 

 IIOK.\ED GREBI-:. 



WINTER PLL'MACE. 



