138 " PODICIPEDTDiE. 



proacli. Though occasionally seen to use its Avings when 

 flapping along the top of the water, its powers of flight 

 are said to be limited, and in walking, its progression has 

 been asserted to be still more embarrassed ; but Mr. Gat- 

 combe and others have remarked that one kept in the Zoo- 

 logical Society's Gardens could run very swiftly from one 

 place to another, and could stand upright, although in a 

 somewhat knock-kneed position. The bird is, however, very 

 seldom found on land, except close to the edge of the water, 

 into which it returns on the slightest alarm, perfectly con- 

 scious that water alone aff'ords it the requisite protection. 



Its food consists of small fishes, aquatic insects, with 

 some vegetable substances ; and a few of its own soft 

 feathers from the under part of the body are usually found 

 in its stomach. Examples have often been picked up 

 choked by the Bull-head or Miller's Thumb (Cottus [johio), 

 which they had vainly tried to swallow. Mr. Selby re- 

 marks, " During winter, when the ponds and brooks be- 

 come frozen, Dabchicks betake themselves to the mouths of 

 rivers and small retired bays, where they feed upon shrimps, 

 fry of fish, and marine insects. At this season I have 

 several times caught them in Budle Bay, on the coast of 

 Northumberland, when they happen to be left in small pools 

 after the recess of the tide. Having first dived, they after- 

 wards invariably endeavoured to conceal themselves among 

 the fronds of the algae, rarely attempting to escape by 

 flight." Nares, in his Glossary, says that the term Did- 

 apper, applied to the Dabchick in some counties, means a 

 little diver. 



Like the other species of this genus, the Little Grebe 

 breeds among the reeds and coarse herbage of the waters 

 it inhabits, and, considering the size of the bird, it forms 

 a somewhat large, flat nest of aquatic plants, in which from 

 four to six eggs are usually deposited from April to August, 

 for there can be no doubt that two broods are often reared in 

 the season. The eggs measure about 1'6 by 1 inch, and 

 Avhen first laid they arc white, but soon become stained 

 with greenish-yellow and brown, from being in contact with 



