CORMORANTS AND GREBES. 189 



not remain white very long, for the cautious little bird 

 never leaves them without covering them with wet 

 weeds, to conceal them from hostile eyes, and their 

 chalky texture gets so stained that before they are 

 hatched they have usually acquired a rich brown, or 

 bronze, hue. As soon as the little ones come out they 

 take to the water and swim after their mother, or sit 

 upon her back when they want a rest. The breeding 

 season is of course the rains, when the tanks are full. 

 At that time the Dabchicks get noisy, constantly 

 uttering a shrill, querulous cry. 



I ought to mention that Grebes are not classed 

 with Ducks in any modern system, and are in truth 

 very different. Their feet are not webbed in the same 

 way, but each toe has its own web and forms a 

 separate oval paddle. 



