GREBES. 143 



mentioned, the tiny brood, after gathering a little 

 strength, are able to retain their position by tightly 

 grasping the mother's plumage. When the wings 

 are fully extended (without doing which a bird 

 could not fly, however slow), there cannot then be 

 any hollow for a chick to nestle in ; nor could the 

 parent grasp its little one save with partly folded 

 wing. This latter action would be that of the 

 Dabchick when diving, as some affirm she does, 

 with her eggs from the nest ; but she surely could 

 not fly with them. I refer to this because it is a 

 common idea in Ireland that a bird can fly with its 

 young under the wing. 



