CHAPTER XXXII 
THE ORDER OF WEAK-WINGED DIVING-BIRDS 
PYGOPODES 
With this group, the Class of Birds enters upon a very marked and swift decline from the high 
types. Another step beyond this Order, and we land among birds so nearly wingless that they are 
without the power of flight. The birds of the present Order have wings that are small and weak; 
and while they are able to fly, and also to migrate, they fly feebly in comparison with the cloud- 
cleaving goose, duck, gull and albatross. Their legs are set far back on their bodies, and on land 
they have no choice but to stand erect — a posture which is strikingly characteristic of the wing- 
less sea-birds, generally. 
This Order, as represented in North America, contains but three Families: 
FAMILIES. EXAMPLES. 
Grebes, .... pod-i-cip'1-dae, Pied-Billed Grebe. 
Loons, ga V-I’I-dae, . Great Northern Diver. 
Auks and Puffins, al'CI-dae, . . Razor-Billed Auk; Tufted Puffin; Murre. 
ORDER 
PYGOPODES. 
Of these, the first and second are compara- 
tively well known. The third is composed of 
birds that are strangers to the great majority 
of us; but inasmuch as Alaska is constantly 
being brought nearer to us, it is quite necessary 
that we should become acquainted with its 
most prominent forms of bird-life. 
The Pied-Billed Grebe, or “Hell-Diver,” 
also called the Carolina Grebe , 1 is well quali- 
fied to stand as the representative of the Grebe 
Family, which in North America contains about 
six species. It is usually seen in the geographi- 
cal centre of a quiet pond, sharply watching in 
every direction for enemies. It is a sad and 
uncomfortable-looking little creature, destitute 
of bright and pleasing colors, and also devoid of 
beauty. At a distance, the hunter is thrilled 
by the sight of what he gladly thinks is a duck; 
but on approaching nearer he sighs regretfully, 
and admits that it is “only a Grebe.” If he 
fires at it, in revenge for the disappointment, 
the bird is gone before the charge of shot is 
half way to it, and only an innocent ripple 
marks its disappearance. 
All the Grebes are expert long-distance 
divers. They can either sink straight down, or 
dart down head first in a fraction of a second, 
and remain under water so long a time, and 
wim so far while submerged, that it is very 
difficult to follow their movements. Sometimes 
a Grebe will insinuate only its bill above the 
surface, in order to breathe without exposing 
even its head and neck. It is a waste of time, 
ammunition and self-respect to shoot and 
actually kill one of these birds; for they are 
very commonplace and useless. 
The only redeeming feature about this bird 
is its breast, which is covered with a thick mass 
of very persistent feathers, set so tightly in 
a very tough skin that the evil-eyed milliners 
once used Grebes’ breasts for hat trimmings. 
The nesting habits of the Grebe are remarka- 
ble and interesting. Instead of choosing a dry 
situation, where incubation might proceed under 
the best possible conditions, it frequently chooses 
a clump of rushes in deep water and builds a 
floating nest, attached to the rushes. Some- 
times, however, it selects a spot where the water 
is very shallow, and builds from the bottom up, 
using rushes when possible to procure them. 
In either case, the sodden mass rises only two 
or three inches above high-water mark, and 
1 Pod-i-hjm'bus pod'i-ceps. Average length, 12 
inches. 
300 
