450 THE GREBE. 



TABLE XXX. (See page 23.) 



ORDER 6. PALMIPEDES. TRIBE 4. BREVIPENNES (Short- 

 winged.) 



THE characteristic feature of this, the last tribe of the 

 last order of birds, is the extreme shortness of the wing, 

 which, in many of them, prevents their flying to any 

 distance, and, in some, partakes more of a fin than a 

 feathered wing. Their legs are, moreover, placed far 

 behind ; their plumage is close and glossy, so as to resist 

 water; all which peculiarities fit them for a more exclu- 

 sively water life. It is divided into four genera: 

 1. Grebes, or Divers; 2. Guillemots; 3. Auks, or Puffins; 

 4. Penguins. 



The Grebes, which take precedence in this list of the 

 short-winged tribe, are the only birds whose habits lead 

 them to pass comparatively peaceful lives, on the less 

 agitated surfaces of our inland lakes and meres ; the 

 others being all, more or less, sea-birds, whose dwelling- 

 place, when on land, is on wild rocks, exposed to storm 

 and tempest, of which they take no heed, defended as 

 they are by a rich coat of glossy plumage, whose smooth 

 and oily surface is impenetrable to water. 



The Grebes, though classed amongst the palmated or 

 web-footed families, nevertheless, in some species at least, 

 differ from them in one respect, having only partial 

 webs; the toes being flattened and furnished with what 

 is called lobes or membranes, like those of the Coot. 

 They are unsocial solitary birds, seldom more than a 

 pair being seen together; and withal, so shy, that it 

 requires all the address and skill of a keen sportman to 

 get within shot ; though the inexperienced may think it 

 an easy matter so to do, when he sees one of them 

 apparently dozing within a few yards of the rushy con- 

 fines of a pool of water. But the Grebe is neither 

 sleeping nor off his guard ; as the gunner would know, 



