THE GREBE. 451 



were he near enough to watch the motions of the wary 

 bird. He would then see its clear penetrating eye 

 glancing in every direction, alive to the approach of 

 friend or foe, and, if suspicious of danger, its body 

 gradually sinking, until the upper part of it only remained 

 visible, and its sharp, lance-shaped head thrown back 

 on its slender neck, prepared to plunge at a moment's 

 notice. So rapid indeed are their movements, that, on 

 seeing the flash of a gun, they can dive into security, 

 below the water, before the shot can reach them, as the 

 following account will show: 



" As I was out shooting," writes an eye-witness, " I 

 saw one of these birds swimming towards a point of land, 

 where I could easily conceal myself; so I repaired 

 thither for that purpose. He came onwards with a wild 

 anxious gait, constantly turning his head from side to 

 side, as if to be upon his guard against an enemy. I 

 had arrived at the place, and the bird was approaching. 

 Now and then, as he came on, he stretched his long 

 neck, for several seconds, under the water, looking for 

 small fish ; and when he had nothing better to do, he 

 turned his head round, in order to tickle his tail with 

 his bill. Watching the moment when he was so engaged, 

 I fired, at the distance of thirty yards. My gun went 

 quick as lightning, but the Grebe went quicker, and 

 scrambling over, out of sight, came up again in a few 

 seconds, perfectly unhurt." 



The skins of these birds, from their beautifully soft 

 and silky texture, make valuable tippets for ladies, and 

 form an article of trade from North America, and other 

 countries where they abound. They are chiefly taken 

 by the Indians, who contrive to kill them at great dis- 

 tances, using a large quantity of powder and very little 

 shot ; and they have also a way of enticing them by a 

 particular call, and a red rag at the end of a stick- 

 methods which they practise with great success. 



One of the most common in our country, and at the 

 same time, one of the most beautiful, is the Crested Grebe 



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