THE DIVERS. 24 1 



third quills being longer than the rest. The tail is altogether wanting, its place being occupied by a 

 small bunch of fur-like feathers. The general plumage is everywhere very thick, and upon the lower 

 part of the body so smooth and bright as almost to resemble satin, while on the head, neck, and hinder 

 part of the body it has somewhat the appearance of hair. When in their nuptial plumage, the head of 

 the adults is adorned with a remarkable collar or frill, developed from the sides of the face and neck, 

 or provided with bunches of feathers, generally decorated with bright colours. Members of this family 

 are to be found in the temperate zones of both hemispheres, beyond which they do not extend very 

 far either to the north or south. Their usual habitat is on ponds or large sheets of stagnant water, 

 and exceptionally on deep, slow-moving streams ; but always where sedges and rushes are abundant. 

 Occasionally, though rarely, they have been seen upon the sea. " Probably there are no birds," says 

 Naumann, " better entitled to the name of water-fowl than the Grebes — at least we know of no others 

 that do not on some occasions make their appearance on dry land. It is only, however, under the 

 most urgent circumstances — as, for example, when wounded — that these approach the shore, and even 

 then they keep so close to the brink that on the slightest alarm they can at once plunge into 

 their proper element. It would seem that whatever they do must be done in the water ; they cannot 

 even rise upon the wing without a preliminary rush over the surface of the lake : from dry land they 

 cannot commence their flight. Their whole life is divided between swimming and diving ; and even 

 when other water-birds go on shore to sleep, the Grebes repose floating on their liquid bed. When 

 thus sleeping upon the tranquil water, they float as buoyantly as if they were made of cork, their legs 

 raised to the edges of their wings, and their head comfortably buried among the feathers between 

 their back and shoulder. Should, however, a storm disturb their rest, and the boisterous elements 

 drive them towards the shore, they at once turn round to face the blast, and are generally able, by the 

 active movement of their paddle-like feet, to maintain themselves in the same place. 



The conformation of their bodies, their tapering shape, small heads, sharp beak, and the very 

 backward position of their feet, enable them to dive with wonderful facility; in fact, when under 

 water they make their way more swiftly than even when swimming at the top. A man upon the 

 shore would find it very difficult to keep pace with a diving Grebe, as, aided by wings and feet, it 

 shoots onwards with the velocity of a rocket. When flying, their long neck is stretched out straight 

 forwards and their feet backwards, while their small wings, by the rapidity of their movements, carry 

 them very quickly through the air. In the absence of any tail, they steer their course by means of 

 their feet, and are able not only to direct but to change the course of their flight with surprising 

 facility; at the end of their journey they come down obliquely upon the surface of the water, into 

 which they fall with a very audible splash. When alarmed they always instantly dive, and nothing 

 but the utmost extremity of danger will compel them to take wing. The food of these birds consists 

 of small fishes, insects, frogs, and tadpoles, in search of which they dive to the very bottom of the 

 pond, but always bring them to the top before swallowing them. In their manner of breeding, the 

 Grebes are in many respects peculiar. They live together in pairs, die male and the female 

 exhibiting the greatest affection towards each other, keeping each other company even during their 

 migrations, and always returning together to the same pond. 'When the time arrives, they construct 

 a floating nest, which, instead of being built of dry materials, as in the case of other birds, is merely a 

 Kiass of wet weeds, in which the eggs are kept not only constantly damp, but absolutely in the water. 

 The weeds used in building the nest are procured by diving, from the bottom of the pond; these are 

 put together in the most slovenly manner, so as to resemble a floating heap of rubbish rather than a 

 nest, and are then fastened to some old upright reeds. The number of the eggs varies from three to 

 six ; they are of elongated shape, and at first of a greenish white colour, but they soon become dirt)-, 

 and are then of a yellowish red or olive-brown tint, sometimes marbled. 

 vol. iv. — 149 



