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THE PIED-BILLED DOBCHICK. 



Prodiceps Carolinensis, Lath. 

 PLATE CCCCLXXXIII.— Male and Female. 



There go the little Dobchicks, among the tall rushes and aquatic grasses 

 that border the marsh. They have seen me, and now I watch them as they 

 sink gently backwards into the deep water, in the manner of frightened 

 frogs. Cunning things! "Water-witches," as they call you, I clearly see 

 your bills, although you have withdrawn all of you save those parts, and 

 sneak off towards yon great bunch of bulrushes. Well, speed on, and may 

 safety attend you ! Nature has granted you means of eluding your enemies, 

 and I am heartily glad to see that you have profited by her instructions. I 

 know you can fly too. How happy must you be, to be thus enabled to 

 migrate through the air, instead of being obliged to labour for months with 

 your curiously scolloped feet, in removing from one country to another, as 

 authors say you do. Ah! 3^ou have reached a small secluded pool, where 

 you intend to breed in peace and security; there you are, collecting rushes 

 and weeds to form a large matted bed, on which you intend to deposit your 

 pearly eggs. Labour on, mind me not, I am a true friend and admirer of 

 your race. I see that among these plants you have fixed your tenement, in 

 which there will soon be five eggs, which, although tinged with green, will 

 look as if pure white. I wish I knew how many days of constant heat from 

 your bodies it will require to hatch them. Some other time perhaps you 

 may tell me. Miniatures of yourselves I now see swimming gaily, skipping, 

 springing, gliding, dipping, just like yourselves. So, you snatch the crawl- 

 ing bug, and gorge 3^ourselves with leeches, fish, and herbage. How fast 

 your young ones grow, changing from downy to hairy, and again to feathery 

 and silky. On winglets they now cross the clear pool, and crawl on the 

 opposite shore, there enjoying the warmth of the bright sunbeams. Septem- 

 ber has come; plump and strong seven of you there are; the evening is 

 calm and beautiful; you spread out your wings, reach with some difficulty a 

 proper height, and swift as meteors glide through the air, until, meeting with 

 warmer waters, you alight on them, and there remain for a season. 



The Pied-billed Dobchick may be met with in almost every part of the 

 United States, at one season or other: in the south and west during autumn 



