144 Bird -Lore 



would come up with a fish, one or more of the Gulls would pounce Upon it for 

 the food, and the Grebe would have to dive to escape with its prize. Generally 

 they saved their fish by coming up at a considerable distance, though the Gulls 

 succeeded in worrying a fish from the Grebes at times. 



They were wonderful divers, at times seeming to 'just disappear,' but, when 

 really fishing, they would throw themselves forward and almost out of the 

 water with the violence of their effort, and I wondered if the depth of water had 

 anything to do with the manner of diving. With watch in hand, we timed them 

 under water, and on two occasions one Grebe was down fifty-five seconds — 

 forty-five to fifty-five seconds was the average. 



HOLBCELL'S GREBE 

 Photographed by Wilbur S. Smith 



On April 15 one was seen in Saugatuck Bay, and on April 20 one was found 

 in a yard in the east end of town. I liberated it, first photographing and study- 

 ing its actions and posture on land. It sat forward on its breast, and it seemed 

 to me the bird realized its helplessness, for, when placed on the lawn with no 

 one near, it made no effort to escape and kept up a constant calling. A small 

 child with a stick could have killed it, though it struck viciously with its long 

 bill when anyone came within reach, but the blow did not have the force or 

 power of that of a Heron of equal size. 



From its actions one might have thought it was wounded, but when it saw 

 the salt water — possibly first sensed it — a marked change took place in the 

 Grebe's actions, and it struggled violently to escape. Placed on the ground 

 some distance from the shore it went floundering along, propelled by wings and 

 feet, until it reached the water, when it was the perfection of graceful motion. 

 It dove and preened and dove again, raised high on its feet and shook itself 

 and flapped its wings, dove again, and then headed for open water at a pace 

 that proved it to be in good condition. 



