1 62 BRITISH BIRDS. 



tl)c (grebes. 



THE bills of this genus are compressed on the 

 sides, and, though not large, are firm and strong, 

 straight and sharp-pointed: nostrils linear: a bare 

 space between the bill and the eyes : tongue slightly 

 cloven at the end : body depressed : feathers thickly 

 set, compact, very smooth and glossy: wings short; 

 scapulars long; no tail: legs placed far behind, 

 much compressed, or flatted on the sides, and ser- 

 rated behind with a double row of notches; toes 

 furnished on each side with membranes; inner toes 

 broader than the outer; the nails broad and flat. 



This genus is ranked by Ray and Linnaeus with 

 the Diver and Guillemot; but as the Grebes differ 

 materially from those birds, Brisson, Pennant, and 

 Latham have separated them, an arrangement 

 which it will be seen we have adopted. 



The Grebes are almost continually upon the 

 water, where they are remarkable for their agility: 

 at sea they seem to sport with the waves, through 

 which they dart with the greatest ease, and, in 

 swimming, slide along as it were, without any 

 apparent effort, upon the surface, with wonderful 

 velocity ; they also dive to a great depth in pursuit 

 of their prey. They frequent fresh-water lakes and 

 inlets of rivers, as well as the ocean, to which they 

 are obliged to resort in severe .seasons, when the 

 former are bound up by the ice. No cold or damp 

 can penetrate their thick close plumage, which looks 

 as if it were glazed on the surface, and by which 

 they are enabled, while they have open water, to 

 brave the rigours of the coldest winter. They can 



