72 Notes on the Holbcell Grebe 



quite concealed under the side and flank feathers and humer- 

 als. In ordinary swimming the feet struck out alternately. 

 The tarsi extended downward and outward. In diving the 

 bird was not observed to spring forward in the common grebe 

 manner, but rather let himself down very quickly as though 

 drawing his head back through a hole. When it was below 

 the surface I could scarcely realize that the creature before me 

 was a bird, so slender was he and so swiftly did he dart about 

 and shoot through the tangle of aquatic vegetation. It was 

 amazing. The wings were entirely covered by the feathers 

 and the feet struck out simultaneously at the sides, far astern. 

 Their movements could scarcely be followed. 



STANDING AND WALKING. 



Contrary to the common belief in regard to grebes, this 

 individual was never seen to rest upon his heels, though ob- 

 served untiringly. The ordinary standing position was with 

 the body|somewhat inclined forward, the shoulders humped 

 up, and the tarsi descending forward and outward on a slant — 

 and so entirely free from the ground. The bird could stand 

 for nearly a quarter of a minute or run ten or twelve feet be- 

 fore'dropping to his breast. While vigorously preening or 

 jabbing at his feathers he would sway around and sometimes 

 had to take a step or two to regain balance. He seemed to 

 become 'fatigued after standing for a moment, the strain being 

 felt most, I think, in the toe-joints and in the muscles and 

 tendons^which flex the digits; for even with the tarsus slop- 

 ping back as it did (see sketch) the toes were necessarily 

 pressed'upward to an unnatural degree. This conclusion was 

 strengthened by the fact that the toe-joints became much 

 swoUen.and developed corn-like protuberances. In pattering 

 rapidly^^along the bird held his body in a semi-erect attitude 

 and it swayed but little, on account of the quickness of the 

 steps; but when walking slowly along he swung noticeably 

 to the side whose leg for the moment supported his weight. 

 He sometimes took food from the floor without first lying 

 down, though he usually assumed the ventropodal position 

 when feeding. When going under chairs and other low ar- 

 ticles the bird progressed in short leaps, giving a spring with 

 both legs together and coming down on his breast. 



