Pied-Billed Grebe. 315 



the surface of the water so lightly as scarcely to start the 

 ripples, and appears at a distance as though evoked from 

 the nymphean realms. The terms "dipper '' and "diadip- 

 per " are also suggestive of the rapid disappearance of the 

 little creature as it dips forward into its favorite element. 

 The appellation of "dabchick" is another point in evi- 

 dence of the fact that its names are not euphonious, 

 though they may be expressive and apt in their meaning. 

 This grebe has an extensive geographic distribution, 

 inhabiting the southern British Provinces, most of the 

 United States, and ranging southward to Brazil and 

 temperate South America, as well as the West Indies, 

 breeding throughout the most of the above regions in suit- 

 able localities. In Illinois it is a regular summer resi- 

 dent, reaching the central part of the State on its north- 

 ward movement about the middle of April, and remaining^ 

 until the last of September. On its migration and after the 

 breeding season it is rather trustful, and any of the small 

 inland ponds and lakes may be tenanted for a short time 

 by one or more of these grebes, though the pond may be a 

 resort for the small boys of the neighborhood as a swim- 

 ming place. Sometimes a raillpond or an open branch 

 of water in town or city will allure one to rest for a few 

 days from the weariness resulting from a journey unsuited 

 to its powers, but which it is actuated to undertake by 

 irresistible instinct to seek — 



" The plashy brink 

 Of weedy lake, or marge ot river wide." 



Once settled upon a resting place it is not easily evicted, 

 and sometimes loses its life from the aversion to take wing 

 in escaping danger. 



The natural home of the grebe is the reedy swam-p or 

 lake, where it can procure abundant supplies of food, and 

 can readily find secure retreats without recourse to flight. 

 The stagnant water teems with insects, tiny minnows, 

 animalcules, and seeds of water grasses, and among the 

 lily pads and reed stems it can quickly and securely hide 

 from fancied or real danger. The materials it uses in 

 constructing its soggy, miniature mound are ready at 

 hand ; and thus freed from the struggle of " keeping soul 



