420 THE GREBE. 



direction, alive to the approach of friend or foe, and, if suspi- 

 cions of danger, its body gradually sinking, until the upper 

 part of it only remained visible, and its sharp, lance- shaped 

 head thrown back on its slender neck, prepared to plunge at 

 a moment's notice. So rapid indeed are their movements, 

 that, on seeing the flash of a gun, they can dive into security, 

 below the water, before the shot can reach them, as the fol- 

 lowing account will show : 



" As I was out shooting," writes an eye-witness, " I saw 

 one of these birds swimming towards a point of land, where 

 I could easily conceal myself; so I repaired thither for that 

 purpose. He came onwards with a wild anxious gait, con- 

 stantly turning his head from side to side, as if to be upon 

 his guard against an enemy. I had arrived at the place, and 

 the bird was approaching. Now and then, as he came on, he 

 stretched his long neck, for several seconds, under the water, 

 looking for small fish ; and when he had nothing better to do, 

 he turned his head round, in order to tickle his tail with his 

 bill. Watching the moment when he was so engaged, I 

 fired, at the distance of thirty yards. My gun went quick as 

 lightning, but the Grebe went quicker, and scrambling over, 

 out of sight, came up again in a few seconds perfectly 

 unhurt." 



The skins of these birds, from their beautifully soft and 

 silky texture, make valuable tippets for ladies, and form an 

 article of trade from North America, and other countries 

 where they abound. They are chiefly taken by the Indians, 

 who contrive to kill them at great distances, using a large 

 quantity of powder and very little shot ; and they have also 

 a way cf enticing them by a particular call, and a red rag at 

 the end of a stick methods which they practise with great 

 success. 



One of the most common in our country, and at the same 

 time one of the most beautiful, is the Crested Grebe (Colymbus 

 cristatus), of whose head we have given a figure (see page 

 72). The bird has the power of moving the sort of shawl, 

 or tippet, round its neck, as well as the two tufts or crests on 

 its head, which, when erected, appear like two horns. This 



