166 On the Ornithology of Wilts \_CoIymhidce~\. 



considerable portion of tbeir lives, not onl}' on the surface of the 

 water, but beneath it. The form of body is remarkably long and 

 oval, the neck long and tapering, the head small and thebeakstraight, 

 hard, and sharp-pointed : the legs are placed at the extreme end of 

 the body, and the feet are large, thus acting as paddles propelling 

 from the stern. By this arrangement they are enabled to pass 

 rapidly through the water beneath the surface, and can remain a long 

 time submerged : but on land they are awkward and ungainly 

 enough, standing quite upright, and resting upon the whole length 

 of the leg from the foot to the first joint, reminding one of the 

 kangaroo : and when surprised or alarmed they shuffle into the 

 water on their breasts, somewhat after the manner of the seals. 

 But they rarely come on shore, except at the breeding season, and 

 then they place their nests at the water's edge. Though their 

 wings are short, and their bodies heavy, they can fly with astonishing 

 strength and swiftness, yet the flight is necessarily laboured : 

 but, once in the water, none are more active and rapid, and even 

 graceful in their movements than the Divers. Many of them are 

 quite tail-less, and others have but rudimentary apologies for tails : 

 but perhaps the most admirable provision for their subaqueous habits 

 centres in their plumage, which is not only thick downy and soft, 

 but has a glossy silky lustre, which renders it so completely water- 

 proof that prolonged immersion has no efiect in penetrating beneath 

 it. There are but two genera, belonging to this famil3'', the Grebes 

 and the Divers, and we have instances of both as having occurred 

 in this county. 



" Great Crested Grebe." (Podiceps cristatus.) This fine species 

 well deserves to take rank at the head of the family, and an adult 

 bird furnished with its ruff or fringe round the neck, and long 

 occipital tufts or horns, presents a dignified appearance. It spends 

 a part of its life amidst inland lakes, and part in the shallow waters 

 of the coast, whence it procures its food. So rapidly does it dive, 

 and such progress can it make by exerting wings and feet beneath 

 the surface, that it requires a well-manned boat and sturdy rowers 

 to keep pace with it. Though necessarily only an occasional strag- 

 gler in Wiltshire, where we have no large lakes suited to its habits, 

 I have several instances of its occurrence. Mr. Elgar Sloper 



