HABITS OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 167 



more or less frightened away, one could read in his actions 

 the idea that there was no further need for exertion when he was 

 once out of the " reach " of the latter's long neck. He thus took 

 the minimum of trouble necessary to avoid the danger, and this 

 I have often observed with birds. Moor-hens, though so pug- 

 nacious, know well their limitations, giving instant way, as a 

 rule, even to a Coot when attacked by one. Howeiver, so do the 

 weaker to the stronger ones amongst themselves. 



Seen now swimming close, the Great Crested Grebe shows 

 not a particle of his silver feathering — I speak, of course, of the 

 under surface — above the water-line. In a wind the handsome 

 crest or double tippet is being constantly blown back round his 

 head and face, giving him a funny dishevelled appearance. It is 

 of a fine orange* and black, whilst from amidst it projects the thin 

 white face with the long sharp-pointed spear of a beak. The 

 long serpent neck is brown on the back, white and silver-white on 

 the belly, and, with the swelling crested head, makes the bird 

 look like a Water-Cobra. His dive is sometimes quite informal, 

 just lazily spearing the water, sinking a little in it before he 

 spears it ; sometimes it is with the right Cormorant leap upwards 

 and then downwards, though much less vigorously carried out. 

 Sometimes again the long straight-stretched neck with sharp 

 pickaxe beak shooting out at a right angle sweeps down without 

 a curve. Certainly one of the most ornamental of water-birds, 

 and that it should require protection shows us to be still in- 

 appreciative savages. 



He has just come up with a good-sized fish in his bill, which he 

 shifts about till he gets the head downwards in it before swallow- 

 ing. Yet fish abound in this water, and were far more numerous, 

 according to all accounts, in the Norfolk Broads in those days 

 when the Crested Grebe was also — a remark which can be equally 

 well applied to the Otter. No doubt when we import Sheep and 

 Goats into a country infested with Wolves, the latter must be got 

 rid of, but it is the height of absurdity to interfere between one 

 indigenous wild creature and another. All that we have to do is 

 to leave them both alone, and both flourish. The very existence 

 of a preying species must show an abundance of the species 

 preyed upon in exact proportion to its own, as is — or was — well 

 seen in a country like Africa. 



■■'- Or perhaps, rather, chesnnt. 



