10 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



nest north of the United States, tho formerly they 

 nested as far south as Iowa. They visit us every fall and 

 spring when migrating. The mother frequently carries 

 her young on her back during the first few days of their 

 life. She swims in and out among the rushes, catching 

 tadpoles and small water bugs which she feeds to her 

 young by jerking her head back over her shoulder so skill- 

 fully that she does not shake them from their perch. The 

 male does not seem to take part in this feeding, tho he al- 

 ways remains near and seems very solicitous for his fam- 

 ily's safety. 



The young can swim as soon as they hatch, but some 

 claim they must be taught to dive, and that the old bird 

 teaches them to do this, when she thinks they are old 

 enough, by the simple device of throwing them into the 

 air by a quick flit of her wings. This is done in such a 

 way as to throw them under the water head first, so there 

 is nothing for them to do but to learn to dive. Whether 

 this be true or not, they soon become as expert divers as 

 their parents. 



