Q2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
angles to the line of the body, a feat which it Seen an acrobat 
to explain. 
These Grebes appear to rest a good deal during the day- 
time, either tucking their heads away in the scapular feathers, 
or inserting them up to the forehead in the feathers of the upper 
breast. While they are thus resting, a strong breeze will often 
bring them close in to the banks. The colour of their backs is 
wonderfully protective, and when there is a ripple, the birds are 
almost invisible, unless a glimpse is caught of their white satin 
breasts. 
The Great Crested Grebe is one of the most ornamental of 
water-fowl; and also, what so many gaily-coloured ducks are not, 
a most interesting and amusing bird to watch. At the same time, 
although three fish running is the most I have seen them take, 
one would rather be excused from having a pair on a pond 
which contained yearling trout, or other valuable fish of small 
size. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Natural History Notes on Board Ship.—On my recent voyage home 
from America, in the White Star Liner ‘ Gerrnanic,’ an unusual number of 
small land birds came on board. The weather was cold, the average 
temperature of the day being only 454 degrees, or no less than 25 degrees 
colder than on the corresponding day last year, and there was a strong 
north-west wind blowing. On the 10th of October we left the wharf at 
8.30 a.m. It was fine and elear, but rather cold, with a light westerly 
breeze. We were out of sight of land soon after noon. There were no 
sea-birds of any kind to be seen. A Cedar Waxwing, Ampelis cedrorwn, 
and an English Sparrow were flying about the vesscl till dark. Whilst the 
sun was strong, an Archippus: butterfly, Danais drchippus, was sailing 
lazily about the deek, cleverly avoiding its would-be captors ; it was bright 
and fresh, and apparently not long evolved. This butterfly is a strong 
flyer, and may often be seen soaring about in the air, a hundred feet from 
the ground, even in the midst of violent rain-storms, in California im winter. 
No doubt it has often been introduced to Europe by the agency of the 
mail steamers. Next day, the 11th, there were hundreds of small birds. 
round the vessel. The air seemed full of them, and they appeared flying 
to the vessel from all quarters. I distinguished amongst them the Golden- 
crested Wren, Regulus satrapa, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendra@ca coro- 
