CHAPTER III 



DIVING BIRDS 



Six species of Grebes, or Lobe-footed Divers, are found 

 within the limits of North America. Grebes are so aquatic 

 that they seldom venture upon the land, where they are 

 almost helpless, resting on the entire tarsus instead of toes. 

 They dive and swim with such skill that they were able to 

 escape the shot by "diving at the flash" of the muzzle-load- 

 ing shotgun formerly in use. Various popular names are 

 apphed to show the skill of these birds in diving; they can 

 swim with only the tip of the bill above water. They 

 subsist largely on fish, wliich they are able to capture under 

 the water, propelling the body by feet alone. The nests of 

 the grebes are masses of decayed vegetation, which the birds 

 gather beneath the water and arrange among the growing 

 vegetation by anchoring to aquatic plants so that the nests 

 rise and fall with the water. 



The Loon family comprises five species in the Northern 

 Hemisphere, three being found in the Great Lakes region. 

 They are almost as aquatic as are the grebes. They visit 

 the land only to nest, at which time they move by using the 

 bills, wing, and feet, nesting so near shore as to slide noise- 

 lessly into the water. They capture fish, as do the grebes, 

 by pursuing under water, progressing by means of feet 

 alone. 



The Murres, Puffins, Dovekies belong to the family 

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