174 THE DABCHICK. 



posterior position of his legs, making him appear in stand- 

 ing like an ancient skin-bottle, as well as his long lobate 

 toes, clearly shows that he was not made for walking, but for 

 swimming. He seems to understand alike his weakness 

 and his strength, for when disturbed, he prefers to take to 

 the water rather than to the air — hence that common but 

 rather profane name of the family — "Hell-divers." 



If there are birds which seem to be designed to live 

 almost entirely in the air, here is a kind evidently designed 

 to live almost entirely on the water. Its migrations would 

 seem to be by means of the great water-courses, rather 

 than through the aerial highways. Its food is taken from 

 the water, and its nest is a floating fabric. 



The Grebes belong to the order Pygopodes, or Diving Birds, 

 and constitute the strongly marked family PodicipidcB. 

 They stand next to the Loons which they resemble quite 

 strongly, notwithstanding many minor points of differ- 

 ence, and they are the last family in the present systems of 

 classification of birds. The breast-bone is very firm, and 

 the keel is large. The lower region of the bones of the 

 back has the same keel-like ridge which, to receive the 

 immense muscles of the thigh, is so noticeable in the skeleton 

 of the Loon. The legs extend backward, and are joined 

 by strong muscles to the back, to secure facility in diving, 

 the bird kicking upward against the water in this act. The 

 tarsi are almost as flat as a knife-blade, which form greatly 

 aids in swimming, as it affords the least possible resistance; 

 the feet are continuously lobed, and more or less joined by 

 a web at the bases of the toes, the claws on the latter being 

 flattened like human toe-nails. The bill is generally rather 

 long and pointed. The eyes are far forward, with a bare 

 space in front. The exquisite coat of down in which the 

 young appear is black, elegantly striped with white, and 



