III. THE DABCHICKS. I 29 



of insects is shown by the great activity it 

 displays, when in , captivity, in capturing 

 house-flies and other diptera. Those who 

 have visited Paris will probably have seen 

 the grebes in the window of the restaurateur 

 in the Rue de Rivoli. For years have a pair 

 of these birds been living, apparently in the 

 greatest enjoyment, within the glass window, 

 attracting the admiration of all the passers-by. 

 The extreme agility with which they sailed 

 round their little prison, or scrambled over 

 the half-submerged piece of rock for a fly, 

 was very remarkable. That no bird can be 

 more easily kept in a state of confinement is 

 certain." 



108. This question about its food is closely 

 connected with that of its diving. So far as 

 I understand Mr. Morris, it dives only when 

 disturbed, and to escape, — remaining under 

 water, however, if need be, an almost incred- 

 ible time, and swimming underneath it to great 

 distances. Here we have, if we would only 

 think of it, the same question as that about 

 the water-ouzel, how it keeps down ; and we 

 must now note a few general points about 

 diving birds altogether. 



