50 On the Terrestrial Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. 



species, when on land, is " obliged to stand nearly erect/' 

 Consistency in ornithology, as everywhere else, is a priceless 

 jewel. 



I find little or nothing about the behaviour on land of either 

 Loons or Grebes in the very elaborate Reports upon the 

 ornithology of the United States published at various times 

 under the auspices of the Government by Ilenshaw, Nelson, 

 Turner, Cones, and others. Practically there is nothing. 

 However, in one instance, Mr. Nelson describes the mode of 

 progression of the Black-throated Loon [Urinator arcticus), 

 and he says : " On one occasion I came suddenly upon one 

 of these birds in a small pool, and the bird, seeming to 

 appreciate the uselessness of trying to dive, tried to take 

 wing, but fell upon the grass only a few feet from the water. 

 Hoping to capture the bird alive, I pursued it at full speed 

 as it progressed toward a neighbouring pond. The bird 

 advanced by raising the fore part of the body by pressing 

 downward with the wing-tips, and at the same time, by an 

 impetus of wings and legs, threw the body forward in a 

 series of leaps. In spite of my eiforts, the bird distanced 

 me in a race of about 30 or 40 yards, and launched into a 

 larger pond " *. I have had several experiences of this 

 kind with both Grebes and Loons, and in every instance the 

 birds behaved in the same manner as in the chase just 

 described so well by Mr. Nelson. It also agrees with the 

 observations given above by Mr, Brimley in his letter; and 

 another trustworthy authority at my hand says of the Red- 

 throated Diver, '' their legs are placed so far behind that 

 they cannot walk upon them ; still they shove themselves 

 along on the ground by jerks, rubbing the breast on the 

 ground. They make a regular path from the water to their 

 nests." 



I have seen in their natural haunts a great many Loons and 

 Grebes during my lifetime, but have yet to live to see them 

 habitually stand erect on the shore, as Penguins, and Auks, 

 and Cormorants are well known to do. Perhaps other field- 



* ' Report on the Natural-History Collections made in Alaska between 

 the years 1877 and 1881/ p. 37. 



