150 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
the body and wings are elegantly diversified with white, black, 
and brown feathers.” (Harvey, Sea Side Book.) 
The family of the Grebes and Divers approximates the duck 
tribe in the order of creation, but is distinguished by a long 
conical bill, and the position of the legs, which are placed so far 
back towards the tail, that when the bird leaves the water it is 
obliged to stand nearly erect to preserve its equilibrium. The 
Great Crested Grebe. 
foot in the grebes is only partially webbed, the toes being merely 
lobed or finned; but the divers are completely web-footed, 
like the duck. These latter do honour to their name, being 
most expert and indefatigable divers, remaining down some- 
times for several minutes, and swimming rapidly under the 
water. The Red-throated Diver preys much on the fish en- 
tangled in the nets, but is often caught himself in his rapid 
pursuit of the fish; thus affording a strange example of a bird 
caught under water. 
The Arctic Diver enjoys among the Norwegians the reputa- 
tion of being a most excellent weather-prophet. When the 
skies are big with rain, the birds fly wildly about, and make the 
most horrible hoarse noise, fearing that the swe!led waters 
should invade their nest; on the contrary, in fine weather, their 
note is different, and seemingly in an exulting strain. For this 
