Music of the Wild 



the little ones are hatched their down is scarcely 

 dry before thej' take to the water. 



How cunning they are! Sitting like an auk, 

 Avhere yon Mould expect a tail to be, yet it is not; 

 tiny yellow feet, not web])ed like a duck's, but the 

 wejjbing in escallops on tlie outside of eacli flat 

 toe; small, armlike wings; a bill that is sharp for 

 a A\'ater bird ; round, bright-irised eyes ; plump, full 

 breasts of finest snow-white velvet; backs striped 

 much like those of young quail, and the baby not 

 larger than your thinnh. 



On land they are the most helpless birds imag- 

 inable. They can not fly until almost fuUgrown, 

 and their legs are so far back they are unable to 

 lift the weight of their bodies. They rise on their 

 feet, launch themselves forward, with the tips of 

 their wings breaking the fall on their breasts, and 

 thus, like uncouth four-footed things, go sprawl- 

 ing until they reach the water. 



One can see their comic relief and the deep 

 breath they draw as tliey reacli their native ele- 

 Expert ment. What a transformation! The prince of 

 Swimmers swimmers is the baby grebe. Like lightning play 

 the tiny escalloped feet. It fairly seems to glide 

 over tlie siu-face, not infrequently distancing its 

 elders. ^N'lien tired or ready to sleep these com- 

 ical baliy l)irds often climb upon the back of their 

 motlier, making a picture delightful to see. 



The diving of the grown grebe is so nearly 

 390 



