BIRD-LIFE AT SEA. 255 



in a compact party, at others scattered about the 

 water. We never observed all the birds under 

 water at the same time ; one or two always 

 remain upon the surface as if on the look-out. 

 When threatened by danger they have a way of 

 rapidly swimming out towards the open water, 

 and if the pursuit becomes too hot, they dive at 

 once and reappear far away from the approaching 

 danger, repeating the action time after time until 

 a place of safety is reached. We have sometimes 

 known this Grebe to remain with us in spring until 

 the full nuptial ornaments have been assumed. 

 When moulting in autumn, their quills drop out 

 so rapidly that the birds are for some time quite 

 unable to fly. At all times these birds take wing 

 with apparent reluctance, knowing full well that 

 their greatest chance of safety is in the water, 

 where, we may remark, they swim and dive with 

 as much agility as the fish themselves. The 

 Sclavonian Grebe we often meet with in Tor Bay, 

 its general habits very closely resembling those of 

 the preceding species, but perhaps it shows less 

 inclination to come inshore. Sclavonian Grebes 

 are later to arrive, and leave us, we think, some- 

 what earlier than Great Crested Grebes. Birds in 



