GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 405 



the stern, and the others are at each side, about the mid- 

 dle, in order that one or the other may be in a position 

 to take the shot as soon as the bird is visible. At the 

 commencement of the pursuit, when the bird is strong, it 

 frequently comes to the surface of the water, out of 

 shooting distance, and has perhaps altered its course, but 

 a good look-out being kept by the shooters at their differ- 

 ent posts, the bird is soon descried, and the rowers again 

 urge the boat in chace ; the bird dives again, and is again 

 pursued, and on rising is perhaps shot at, but at too great a 

 distance to be effectual, and the bird dives again. In this 

 way the chace is kept up for a time ; the bird, partly ex- 

 hausted by the necessity of maintaining its exertions, and 

 perhaps slightly wounded, is unable to remain so long 

 under water, but the boat is close at hand, the exertion 

 must be continued, and the Grebe still rises and dives 

 again with so much rapidity that several unsuccessful 

 shots are frequently made. The rowers from practice 

 calculating the length of time the chace has lasted, can 

 tell very nearly whenever the bird dives how many strokes 

 of the oars will bring the boat near the place where it may 

 be expected to rise, and by giving out this notice and 

 counting aloud, the interest is kept up throughout the pur- 

 suit, till a fortunate shot gives the fatal blow, when the 

 prize is handed into the boat, and the telescopes again put 

 into requisition to find out a new victim. 



Dr. Richardson found this bird during summer on most 

 of the lakes of the fur-countries of North America, and 

 the species is included in the histories of the Birds of the 

 United States. 



In the adult male the bird is brownish-red ; the irides 

 red ; the top of the head, and the elongated feathers of 

 that portion of the crest on the crown of the head, rich 



