260 WEAK-WINGED DIVING BIRDS 



brought nearer to us, it is quite necessary that we should be- 

 come acquainted with its most prominent forms of bird life. 



THE GREBE FAMILY 



The Pied-Billed Grebe, or "Hell-Diver," also called 

 the Carolina Grebe, 1 is well qualified to stand as the repre- 

 sentative of the Grebe Family, which in North America con- 

 tains about six species. It is usually seen in the geographical 

 centre of a quiet pond, sharply watching in every direction 

 for enemies. It is a sad and uncomfortable-looking little 

 creature, destitute of bright and pleasing colors, and also 

 devoid of beauty. At a distance, the hunter is thrilled by 

 the sight of what he gladly thinks is a duck; but on approaching 

 nearer he sighs regretfully, and admits that it is "only a 

 Grebe." If he fires at it, in revenge for the disappointment, 

 the bird is gone before the charge of shot is half-way to it, 

 and only an innocent ripple marks its disappearance. 



All the Grebes are expert long-distance divers. They can 

 either sink straight down, or dart down head first in a frac- 

 tion of a second, and remain under water for so long a time 

 and swim so far while submerged, that it is very difficult to 

 follow their movements. Sometimes a Grebe will insinuate 

 only its bill above the surface, in order to breathe without 

 exposing even its head and neck. It is a waste of time, 

 ammunition and self-respect to shoot and actually kill one 

 of these birds; for they are very commonplace and useless. 



The only redeeming feature about this bird is its breast, 

 which is covered with a thick mass of very persistent feathers, 



1 Pod-i-lym'bus pod'i-ceps. Average length, 12 inches. 



