INTEODTOTIOIT. 



19 



It digers, however, in having its toes bordered vrith a scalloped 

 membrane, so that it is a sort of half-web-footed Bird. Another 

 Bird with also half-webbed or "lobed" feet is the South- 

 American one named Heliornis fuliea. 1 To such Birds as the Coot 

 and its allies we shall have again to refer *. 



Fig. 17. 



The American Fin-foot (Heliornis fiiUca). 



Tet another Very common inhabitant of our lakes and ponds, 

 which also has its toes festooned with membrane, and notable 

 for its soft plumage, is the Dabchick (fig. 18), or Little Grebe 

 (Podiceps minor). But seldom found on land, where it walks 

 badly, and rarely taking the wing, it is a most rfeady diver, 

 diving with perfect ease when but a week old, and swimming 

 as soon as hatched. It and a few other larger Grebes found in 



* See below, p. 63. 



C 2 



