222 BIRD WATER TRESPASSERS. 



So familiar are they with the water, that they sleep 

 on its surface as safely as if they were on land, their 

 heads tucked comfortably in their shoulders, after the 

 manner of birds. Generally, a Diver descends below 

 the water by means of a sudden leap, and, if it be 

 pursued, comes to the surface and dives again with 

 such rapidity that the best marksman will hardly have 

 time for his aim. But it can also compress its body 

 sufficiently to allow itself to sink gradually, and if it 

 should take alarm and not see immediate danger, it 

 will then submerge itself until only its head remains 

 above the water. 



The legs being short, and set very far back, the 

 bird has much of the attributes of the penguin when 

 on land, sitting bolt upright, and being almost as bad 

 a walker. Indeed, its gait hardly deserves the name 

 of a walk, but can only be called an awkward shuffle. 

 The long, lithe, and powerful neck enables its sharp 

 and powerful bill to be used with terrible effect among 

 the fishes, and to defend itself against foes, at whom 

 it strikes quickly and fiercely, as the heron does. 



How efficient a weapon is this beak may be 

 imagined from the fact that within one of these birds 

 were found nineteen flounders and a salmon-trout. It 

 is no matter of surprise, therefore, that so voracious a 

 creature should be in great straits for food when it is 

 obliged to depend on frogs and insects for sub- 

 sistence. 



