210 BLACK-CHINNED GREBE. 



we Lave seen it much more diffused among the 

 Highland lochs, and we have shot it in Sutherland 

 in June, in the full breeding dress. During winter 

 it is common in the river Annan, and on looking 

 down a reach, one or two may always be seen 

 swiming and diving, and sometimes sporting with 

 each other ; if the intruder shews himself, it imme- 

 diately dives, and is not again seen ; taking refuge 

 among the banks, or falling down the stream, 

 until some cover is obtained. We have sometimes 

 seen it surprised in clear water, when it would 

 either seek refuge about the sides or endeavour to 

 conceal itself under weeds at the bottom, the time 

 that it can remain under water being almost in- 

 credible. We never saw it attempt to save itself 

 by flight, except once, when we suddenly came up- 

 on a party of four or five, towards evening, in very 

 shallow water. Even in a circumscribed pool, 

 diving seems almost its only resource ; the last spe- 

 cimen we procured was taken in a small piece of 

 water about ten feet square, where the bird might 

 have escaped by flight, but it kept diving and at- 

 tempting to get under the banks or weeds, until 

 exhausted; during the while, the motions under 

 water were beautifully seen ; when moving straight 

 forward it is propelled by the wings, a sort of 

 flight, but when turning, and we presume when 

 seeking its food, it has an easy gliding motion, 

 feet and wings being used as occasion requires, 

 sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other ; 

 and we were reminded of the graceful gliding 



