At Home with a Hell -Diver 



253 



the old bird and several young from a new nest that had evidently been con- 

 structed as a sort of roosting- or resting-place. The down of the young is evi- 

 dently not as impervious to water as are the feathers of the adults, and it is 

 necessary for them to emerge from the water occasionally to dry off. Whether 

 the original nest would have been used for this purpose if it had not been dis- 

 turbed, cannot be said; but I am inclined to believe that these 'roost-nests' 

 are frequently constructed, as several more were found in other parts of the 

 pond, probably built by other Grebes. In construction they were similar to 

 the regular nests, except that the hollow, never having been filled with debris 

 was always better formed. The young at this time, although but sixteen days 

 old, showed remarkable growth; but I was forced to cease my observations 

 at this point. 



THE FIRST RIDE 



