74 BIRD HAUNTS AND NATURE MEMORIES 



motion is not confined to its general shape, but is specially 

 noticeable in its feet and legs. It is not strictly web- 

 footed like a duck or gull; the toes are distinct but are 

 broadened out or lobed, whilst, in the same way, the 

 tarsus or leg is flattened and broad. The grebe does not 

 paddle through the water with alternate strokes, but, 

 at any rate when travelling quickly, rows itself along, 

 the legs striking out sideways and not beneath the plane 

 of the body. Set far back, the legs are further furnished 

 with special rotatory muscles; in the forward swing the 

 bird "feathers under water," turning the tarsus and 

 lobed foot so as to present as little resistance as possible 

 to the water, cutting it with the narrow cutting edge. 

 In the back stroke the lobed toes are turned, spread so as 

 to give a bigger surface; foot and tarsus grip the water. 

 So freely do bone and muscle work that the bird can easily 

 raise a foot above its back; often, when a grebe is lazily 

 swimming on the surface, head resting on the back, it 

 will raise and shake a foot above its back. 



In one big and generally correct work on British birds, 

 published not very long ago, it is definitely stated that the 

 grebes leave fresh water for the sea in November and 

 return in February. This, I believe, is the case in Norfolk, 

 and even in Cheshire there is a certain amount of move- 

 ment, especially amongst birds of the year, but the meres 

 are only deserted entirely when they are frozen. There 

 are always a few birds about in December and January 

 if the water is open, and often there are many together, 

 for the grebe is gregarious in winter. Some of the 

 Cheshire birds go to the coast in late autumn, and there is 

 always a noticeable increase of returning birds in flocks. 



In the same book it is stated that " the wing beat is not 

 unlike that of a duck, and they strike the water on 

 alighting in similar fashion." This is exactly what they 

 do not do. Anyone who has watched ducks alighting, 



