18 
COLYMBID.E. 
We represent the Eared Grebe on its feet on land, 
in order to show the manner of its walking attitude. 
When this bird is surprised and overtaken, it frequently 
throws itself down, and extends its legs as if in the act 
of swimming; but we need hardly add that this is a 
desperate effort to escape, and generally proves fatal. 
On the surface of the water this bird is very expert, 
and requires no assistance in order to remain in safety 
from molestation, as it swims and dives to perfection; 
besides which, this bird is one of the most shy of its 
family, and passes most of its time on the water. 
The food of this species consists of aquatic insects and 
their larvae, small frogs and their spawn, which it obtains 
both by diving and searching on the shore. 
The principal breeding-places of the Eared Grebe are 
the countries before enumerated, which are least frequented 
by man; and w^e may with confidence infer that in most 
of them, some few pairs breed annually in suitable locali¬ 
ties. The nest is to be found only by persons who make 
it their study or amusement; it is placed on floating 
herbage or matted reeds a short distance from the shore 
and is composed of decayed stalks of reeds and flags 
of small size in comparison to the bird, and very care¬ 
lessly put together, which particulars occasion it to be 
easily overlooked by persons unacquainted with the habits 
of Grebes in general. 
The eggs are three or four in number, in size and 
colour as represented in our plate, and are hatched after 
three weeks’ incubation. 
The Eared Grebe measures twelve inches in length; 
the beak from the forehead eleven lines; the wing from 
the carpus to the tip five inches; the tarsus one inch 
six lines and a half. 
