424 coLYMBnm 



winter it is more frequent on small streams. In some 

 of these situations, depending on the season, it may be 

 frequently observed busily engaged on the surface in search 

 of food, or diving to shelter itself for security if disturbed 

 by too close an approach. Though occasionally seen to 

 use its wings when flapping along the top of the water, 

 its powers of flight appear to be limited, and in walking, 

 its progression is still more embarrassed ; it is, therefore, 

 very seldom found on land, except close to the edge of 

 the water, into which it returns on the slightest alarm, 

 perfectly conscious that water alone affords it the required 

 protection. 



Its food consists of small fishes, aquatic insects, with 

 some vegetable substances; and a few of its own soft 

 feathers from the under part of the body are usually found 

 in its stomach. Mr. Selby remarks, " During winter, 

 when the ponds and brooks become frozen, Dabchicks 

 betake themselves to the mouths of rivers and small re- 

 tired bays, where they feed upon shrimps, fry of fish, 

 and marine insects. At this season I have several times 

 caught them in Budle Bay, on the coast of Northumber- 

 land, when they happen to be left in small pools after the 

 recess of the tide. Having first dived, they afterwards 

 invariably endeavoured to conceal themselves among the 

 fronds of the algae, rarely attempting to escape by flight." 

 Nares, in his Glossary, says that the term Didapper, 

 applied to the Dabchick in some counties, means a little 

 diver. 



Like the other species of this genus, the Little Grebe 

 breeds among the reeds and coarse herbage of the waters 

 it inhabits, and, considering the small size of the birds, 

 forms a large flat nest of aquatic plants, in which from 

 four to six eggs are usually deposited. These are one 

 inch seven lines in length, by one inch three lines in 



