Little Grebe. 505 



appearing at a considerable distance; and then perhaps, after 

 the manner of its race, only thrusting its head above water, 

 while the body is still submerged. Like most, if not all of its 

 congeners, it covers its eggs during temporary absence from the 

 nest, but this does not appear to be for any purpose of retaining 

 the warmth of incubation, but for concealment and consequent 

 protection from marauders. It is strange that with this species, 

 too, the nest is wet below, and the eggs are covered with wet 

 weeds. As it flutters along the surface of the pond when dis- 

 turbed, its feet (which are longer in proportion to its size than 

 those of any other Diver) appear to weigh it down, and it drags 

 them dip, dip, dipping along the water behind it.* Indeed, it is 

 most reluctant to take flight, and trusts to its wonderful diving 

 powers to elude an enemy ; but, when once on the wing, its flight 

 is both rapid and well sustained. When it stands upright, it 

 has a very awkward, knock-kneed appearance. Provincially in 

 many parts of England it is known as the ' Didapper,' or ' Little 

 Diver.' In Sussex it is called the ' Mole Diver.' By many authors 

 it is now no longer known under the old familiar name of 

 Podiceps minor, but transferred to a separate genus of its own, 

 and called Tachybaptes fluviatilis, or the ' River Quick Diver.' 

 In France it is Grebe castagneux, or ' Chestnut-coloured Grebe,' 

 in allusion to the colour of its neck in the breeding season ; and 

 in Sweden Smd Dopping, or ' Little Dipper ' ; in Germany, Kleiner 

 Steissfuss; in Spain, Zambullidor, ' Dipper,' or ' Plunger.' Before 

 taking leave of this genus, I would again call attention to the 

 feet of the Grebes, which are very peculiar, and are furnished 

 with a broad membrane down the sides of the toes, not unlike 

 those of the Lobipedidse. 



210. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (Colymbus gtacialis). 



This magnificent species is an inhabitant of northern seas, as 



its name implies, and one of the most glorious sights to me as an 



ornithologist when in Norway was the almost daily view of a 



pair of these fine Divers, or its congeners, the ' Black- throated ' 



4 The Fowler in Ireland/ p. 142. 



