THE WESTERN GREBE. 879 
frightened from the water, not into it, the birds will scatter without re- 
gard to their fellows. 
One sees evidence of community feeling, however, in the case of small 
companies, for they will move in close order, diving and resting almost 
simultaneously, while one bird or another assumes the duty of watchman, 
remaining upon the surface and paddling along slowly in the direction taken 
by the submerged flock. 
In diving the Grebe’s head describes a loop with lightning rapidity and 
the body springs forward as tho to accept a challenge from its vanishing 
leader. Considerable depths are visited and the bird is by preference a fisher 
of the channels, leaving the shallows to its smaller kinfolk. 
If surprised at close quarters the Grebe almost invariably seeks to 
escape by diving, but if there is sufficient leeway, as at the approach of a 
steamer, it will take to wing, not without manifest exertion. A-wing it 
is a singular-looking creature. The legs sticking out behind and inclined 
upward, rather than downward, more than counterbalance the unusually 
long neck, so that the bird looks always upon the point of tumbling head 
foremost. The wings are moved quite rapidly, and the bird has no apparent 
control over its speed, save that it tips up somewhat before alighting. Even 
so, it strikes the water with a crash, with its feet spread awkwardly behind 
at diverging angles. 
But even if he is so awkward in gait, the Grebe experiences no difficulty 
in making extended flights, as his presence in some shallow East-side lake 
in May testifies. A colony of nesting grebes has a rare fascination for the 
bird-man, for there is about it just that element of mystery which allures. 
However populous the floating city may be per sc, the owners are pretty 
careful to keep away while it is under review. It is only by stealth that 
one can unravel the mysteries of grebe-town, and a week’s study leaves one 
far from satisfied. 
The requirements are an extensive area of water plants, preferably 
arums, but bulrushes will do; shallow water to match; and fishing privileges 
in the open. The depth of water in the lakes is likely to vary from year 
to year, and the nesting ground may be shifted to correspond, but the nests 
are usually placed in from two to ten feet of water. For their construc- 
tion the birds secure fresh materials, using chiefly the green stalks and the 
root stalks of the arums, if in shallow water heaping the materials up from 
the bottom until the mass rises several inches above the water; if in deep 
water, forming a floating island loosely anchored to the surrounding vegeta- 
tion. But in either case it 1s large enough and strong enough to support the 
weight of the sitting bird above water. 
Here from three to five eggs are laid, of a delicate greenish blue color 
when fresh, but soon fading and becoming discolored thru contact with 
