THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK. 533 



a miniature Duck no longer than a Blackbird. It does not, 

 like the Moor-hen, swim with a jerking movement, nor 

 when alarmed does it half swim and half fly in a direct 

 line for the nearest bank of weeds. If you are unobserved, 

 it swims steadily for a short distance,, then suddenly dis- 

 appears, making no splash or noise, but slipping into the 

 water as if its body were lubricated. It is diving for its 

 food, which consists of water insects, mollusks, small fish 



THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK. 



and worms. As suddenly as it dives so suddenly does it 

 reappear, most likely not far from the spot where you first 

 observed it : 



" A di-dapper peering through a wave, 

 Who, being looked on, ducks as quickly in." 



SHAKSPEARE. 



Another short swim and it dives again: and so it goes 

 on, the time spent under the water being far in excess 

 of that employed in taking breath. Advance openly, 



