532 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
circumstances ; but besides this one, many others of 
these birds must have been driven that summer to 
seek for fresh quarters, for to remain where they 
were was to starve, as a great many even of the 
larger pools were dried up. Very hard frosts also 
must drive many of these birds to make expeditions 
in search of food and water when their usual haunts 
are frozen and snowed up, and a great many of them 
must suffer severely at such times. 
This bird appears to be capable of being tamed 
and kept in confinement, and of its habits in this 
state there is the following interesting note in the 
‘Zoologist’ for 1864:—“I had a very large glass 
elobe with small living fish in it, and into this the 
bird was able to go when inclined to feed. It was so 
tame that in my presence it would dive after the fish, 
bring them up and swallow its capture whole. It was 
very fond of fresh meat, which it took from my hand. 
When resting it does not place its feet upon the 
sround, but turns them up so as to place them under 
its wings, which it covers with its side feathers, and 
thus entirely hides them from view: it will also rest 
in the same manner upon the water. The Grebes 
are generally figured as sitting erect, and I was 
anxious to see if this bird did so, but I could not 
discover that such was the case: it always sat with 
its face to the ground, but when walking or running 
its posture was nearly erect, and it proceeded along 
with a waddling gait.” 
