THE LITTLE GREBE. 279 



herbage itself; but it is generally so placed, as that, in case 

 of the attack of an enemy, the bird can instantly take the 

 water ; though if an enemy does not appear, the female is a 

 resolute sitter. The eggs are five or six, of a white colour 

 when laid, but soon becoming darker from being soiled by 

 the feet of the bird. About the time that the last one is 

 deposited, there are as many shades of colour as eggs. 



In describing the colours of the eggs of birds, whatever 

 may be the species, the circumstance of their being recent or 

 not should be attended to, especially in the case of those 

 birds which are the mosc apt to soil their feet in seeking for 

 their food ; and also in eggs, which, in the absence of the 

 parents, are exposed to the action of the sun, or even of the 

 light for light alone is sufficient to alter the tint of some 

 eggs. 



Grebes are among those birds that cover their eggs when 

 they leave the nest to feed ; and it has been said that they 

 do so for the purpose of concealment from enemies. Those 

 who make such assertions forget that the rupestral qua- 

 drupeds which are most likely to destroy the eggs of the 

 grebes, especially of the little grebe, do not hunt wholly, or 

 even principally, by sight, and that therefore the covering 

 would be no concealment. That the birds sit upon the eggs 

 for the purpose of concealing them, is the fair and legitimate 

 continuation of the prudential hypothesis ; but it is rather 

 more rational, and more in accordance with the fact, to let 

 the weightier reason lead the way. The bird covers the eggs 

 from the same instinct by which she sits on them and then, 

 not from any foreknowledge, that they would be addled if 

 exposed to the cold air, or from any foreknowledge whatever, 

 but simply because it is her nature. It is also sometimes 

 said, that the grebe collects so large a quantity of materials, 

 and places them in such immediate contact with the water, in 

 order that the heat, occasioned by their fermentation, may 



