GKKBF, NATATORES. PODICEPS. 395 



small crustaceous animals, which constitute its principal 

 food, as I have repeatedly found upon opening the stomachs Food, 

 of those obtained during the above season. Being upwards 

 of three years in acquiring maturity, or at least the full de- 

 velopment of the frieze that surrounds the neck and the oc- 

 cipital tufts, it is much more frequently met with in the 

 young or imperfect state of plumage, than in that of the 

 adult ; and out of more than a dozen specimens, which have 

 at different times come under my observation, not one had 

 attained the distinguishing characters of the Crested Grebe. 

 In this immature state it was long supposed to be a distinct 

 species, and as such was known by the name of the Tippet 

 Grebe, adopted from the use to which the soft and silky 

 plumage of the lower parts of the body was often applied. 

 When swimming, it moves very rapidly, and, from the flat- 

 ness of its body, exhibits little more than the head and neck 

 above the water. It dives with remarkable quickness, and 

 is able to avoid the shot from a fowling-piece fired by flint 

 and steel, though it cannot so easily escape from the sudden 

 inflammation of the percussion-lock. Its progress when be- 

 low the surface, which (as in other diving birds) is perform- 

 ed by an action of the wings somewhat similar to that of fly- 

 ing, is so speedy, as frequently to baffle the pursuit of a well- 

 managed boat, and a stretch of 200 yards is sometimes made, 

 before it rises again to breathe ; and this act of respiration, 

 before the bird becomes fatigued by continued pursuit, is 

 commonly effected by merely raising the head above water *. 

 It rarely flies, according to TEMMINCK, even making its mi- 

 grations by swimming, which, however, cannot always be 

 the case, as it is sometimes found on isolated pieces of water, 

 where it could not arrive unless by the use of its wings ; and 



* When making a tour through Holland, in company with Sir WILLIAM 

 JARDINE, we one day, in looking after wild fowl upon the lakes in the 

 neighbourhood of Rotterdam, gave chace to a bird of this species, and 

 though in a boat conducted by those accustomed to the business, it cost us 

 upwards of an hour and a'half 's severe exertion, to get within range, and 

 secure it by a shot through the neck. 



