404 COLYMBIDjE. 



OF the true Divers among our British Birds the Grebes 

 and Dabchicks belong to that division which more particu- 

 larly frequent fresh water, and the Great-crested Grebe, 

 the largest of the genus, is resident all the year in several 

 parts of this country, which afford extensive surfaces of 

 water, partly overgrown w^th reeds and other luxuriant 

 aquatic vegetation, in which they find the required security. 

 They breed, and remain all the year, or by far the greater 

 part of it, on some of the lakes of Wales, on the meres of 

 Shropshire and Cheshire ; on the broads of Norfolk, and in 

 the fens of Lincolnshire. They are seldom seen to fly or 

 walk. Their wings are short and small, and the thighs 

 and legs placed so far behind the centre of gravity, and so 

 closely attached to the posterior part of their body, that 

 they sit upright on the whole length of the tarsus, and 

 their walk is constrained. If the bird is seen on land it 

 is generally close to the edge of the water, into which, if 

 disturbed, it passes with little or no noise to attract obser- 

 vation. They are mostly seen on the water ; the form of 

 the whole bird being that of an elongated cone, is ad- 

 mirably adapted for diving, and their habits can only 

 be observed by those who live in the vicinity of their 

 favourite pools. 



I have been favoured by the Rev. Richard Lubbock 

 with notes on the habits of some of the various divers, as 

 observed on the broads of Norfolk, where the Great- 

 crested Grebe is called a Loon, and of which species it is 

 stated that they are persecuted from a double motive for 

 the beauty of their plumage, and because they are con- 

 sidered to be enemies to fish. A pair or two are to be 

 found on most of the extensive pools during spring, sum- 

 mer, and autumn, but they move over towards the arms of 

 the sea as winter approaches, not remaining to be frozen 

 out, and return early in spring. The nest is frequently 



