GREBES. 7 



Occasionally when startled they patter along 

 the water, using wings and feet. This move- 

 ment sometimes ends in flight or a dive. On 

 account of their rather singular behavior, 

 these interesting birds are popularly called 

 Water Witches, and more objectionably, Dev- 

 il Divers and Hell Divers. 



The flight is swift and direct, with neck 

 and feet outstretched. They never dive from 

 the air, nor do they ever voluntarily appear 

 on land, and cannot rise in flight from it, al- 

 though they can walk and even run. Their 

 cries, which are usually heard in spring, are 

 weird, hollow, and quavering. 



The nests, which are placed among reeds 

 on inland bodies of water, are usually float- 

 ing. Eggs, 6 to 8, greenish, covered with a 

 chalky incrustation which is usually much 

 stained. Young, active when hatched, and 

 follow their parents. They are streaked with 

 whitish and dark brown. 



Although some species of Grebes are gre- 

 garious in habit, all at times, occur singly. 

 The males are larger than the females. 



