416 Synopsis of the Birds 



Female similar to the male. Young extremely different 

 from the adult, not assuming their full dress before the second 

 year of their life. Adult generally greatly distinguished by 

 crest and ruffs. Moult in spring and autumn, changing 

 greatly their colors, and periodically losing their ornaments. 

 Plumage remarkably thick, compact and silky, beneath glos- 

 sy. Colors blackish above, beneath silvery white. 



Exclusively aquatic. Live, sleep and breed on the water : 

 keep chiefly on fresh water, very active, swim and dive 

 admirably, springing in the water, moving rapidly on or 

 below the surface ; when submerged the neck is stretched, 

 the body elongated, and the wings brought close to it, in 

 order to offer the least resistance, paddling with great speed, 

 the feet moving laterally ; descending to great depths in pur- 

 suit of fish ; owing to which they are often caught in fisher- 

 men's nets. Migrate by water : when cast on shore, move 

 their feet and wings unsuccessfully for a long time ; never come 

 willingly to land, except to breed : hardly able to walk, 

 standing erect on account of the position of their legs. Flight 

 limited, when elevated, sufficiently rapid. Feed on fishes 

 reptiles, insects, and occasionally on water plants. Breed in 

 submerged marshes, fixing their nest to reeds and marsh plants 

 near fresh water, often afloat : nest composed of dry grass, 

 lined with down from their own bodies : eggs 3 — 6, which 

 they cover with down and abandon reluctantly. Young 

 covered with soft down, beautifully spotted, led by both parents 

 into the water, and soon able to provide for themselves. The 

 mother swims with her young on her back, and keeps them 

 under her wing when diving. 



Spread all over the world, but chiefly Arctic, most of the 

 species retiring in summer to cold regions to breed. 



f Bill slender from the base, subcylindric, point straight, 

 subulate. Nostrils elongated. 



