AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 149 



putting down the flags and winding them around until a platform several 

 inches above the water is formed. During the latter part of May from 5 

 to 9 eggs are deposited in this nest. The eggs are a chalky greenish 

 white but they soon become discolored by the wet mass beneath them so 

 as to appear brownish. 



HABITS. 



Here is one of the most peculiar of our birds, it is one of the best 

 known too. They frequent the larger cities in great numbers especially 

 in the colder months. They do not congregate here for protection against 

 cold weather, in fact they are beyond having any feeling in the matter. 

 But fashion holds sway in the cities and fashion calls the grebes hither. 

 As a high premium has been put upon their breasts they come in great 

 numbers. Fortunately there has been a large decrease in the city grebe 

 population the past year, and in a few years more the grebe will be as ex- 

 tinct in fashion's realm as the Great Auk is in Nature's. 



Whatever the grebe does it does well, hi two of its attainments in par- 

 ticular it stands at the head of all other birds. No bird can equal it in 

 aquatic feats. In these it has attained perfection. No other bird is quite 

 as awkward as they are while on land. It is with great difficulty that 

 they can walk at all. You will notice from the illustration that his legs 

 are situated at the extreme end of his body. Although this is a decid- 

 ed inconvenience to him in walking, it gives him a great advantage over 

 the ducks in quickness in diving and in. speed. 



With the possible exception of the Loon I do not think there is a bird 

 that can approach this in point of speed in s\\ in^ming especially, under 

 water. And as for diving, it is claimed he will dodge a rifle ball at the 

 flash of the gun. In my boyhood I frequently cornered these birds in a 

 creek or small cove, so that in order to escape it was necessary for them 

 to swim under the boat. At these times we could plainly see their mode 

 of progression. They flapped their wings in much the same way as in 

 flying, and this in addition to their feet is what gives them their great 

 speed. On one of these occasions, as the grebe was going under the 

 boat, my companion in his excitement leaped overboard clothes and all. 

 By some accident he happened to catch the bird by the neck. We kept 

 him a couple of days; but as he would not eat let him go. 



In the summer two or three pairs may be found breeding on the same 

 pond. They are exceedingly wary and will glide off the nest on the tu'st 

 suspicion of anyone's presence. Before leaving the nest they carefully 

 cover the eggs with flags so as to conceal them from view and to protect 

 them from the sun. They frequently leave the process of incubation to 

 the sun during the day time and only return to the eggs at night. 



The young as soon as hatched are expert swimmers and are difficult to 

 capture. The old bird frequently gathers them under her wings and 

 swims away from danger. 



