124 DABCHICK. 



him, and immediately afterwards falling upon his head. In 

 Norfolk they are not uncommon at Yarmouth and elsewhere; 

 also in Lincolnshire. In Nottinghamshire they occur on the 

 Trent. In Cornwall they are plentiful on Svvanpool, near 

 Falmouth. 



In Scotland the species is equally common as in England, 

 in Sutherlandshire, Dumfriesshire, and other parts, and is 

 commonly met with in the Frith of Forth; likewise in 

 Shetland and Orkney. So also in Ireland it is indigenous. 



In some parts of the country the Dabchick disappears, so 

 it is said, in winter. In Yorkshire it is constantly seen at 

 that season, as well as in summer, except indeed when its 

 usual places of haunt are frozen up, and then, as a matter 

 of course, it is obliged to quit them for a time. In frosty 

 weather they are compelled from the larger pieces of stand- 

 ing water to the running stream. 



This Grebe is naturally shy, but becomes accustomed to 

 the sight of passers by the water that it inhabits, and its 

 quick movements in diving may be watched not far off with 

 little disturbance of its proceedings. They occasionally enter 

 the sea close to the shore in those places where their 

 accumstomed haunts are adjacent to it. 



The Dabchick, like some other birds previously mentioned, 

 has the power of sinking its body under the water, the head 

 only and tail being kept out, and of then submerging itself, 

 if need be, and diving off to some distance, when it rises 

 as suddenly as it went down, and with a shake of the 

 head, urges itself on its way. If suddenly startled, it is 

 curious to see how 'instanter' it vanishes with a quick 

 plash; and this is even more especially to be admired, if it 

 has risen to the surface after having been before alarmed, 

 when, if the cause of disquietude is still visible, its descent 

 again seems but a continuation of its upward movement. 

 It is able to remain under the water for an almost 

 incredible time, if need be, and when anxious to escape 

 from threatening danger, rarely resorts to flight, though it 

 will do so at times, but endeavours to conceal itself after 

 the first alarm among the tangled plants that fringe the 

 margin, or carpet the floor of its native element. 



If alarmed they dive, this, as just said, being the mode 

 of escape they prefer to attempt. They are spirited birds, 

 and when taken will attack any object within their reach. 

 The young, when hatched, presently take to the water, and 



