THE GREBE. 
109 
more remote from mankind. It there makes a nest of such 
'Weeds as the stream supplies, and lays them among the 
le eds, floating on the surface, and rising and falling with 
•he water. The reeds among which it is built, keep it fast; 
that it is seldom washed into the middle of the stream, 
hut if this happens, which is sometimes the case, the bird 
s>ts in her nest, like a mariner in his boat, and steers, with 
her legs, her cargo into the nearest harbour; there, having 
Stained her port, she continues to sit in great tranquillity, 
l e gardless of the impetuosity of the current ; and, though 
l he water penetrates her nest, she hatches her eggs in that 
' Ve t condition. In Madagascar there is a coot with a red 
c °mb like a cock. 
•To these birds with long legs and finny toes, we will add 
one genus more, with short legs and finny toes : viz. the 
yftEBE. It is much larger than either of the former, and 
u t s Plumage white and black. It differs also entirely in the 
s l0 rtness of its legs, which are made for swimming, and 
! lot Walking : in fact they are, from the knee upward, hid 
' n the belly of the bird, and have consequently very little 
m °tio n . By this mark, and by the scolloped fringe of the 
° es > this bird may be easily distinguished from all others. 
,, As they are thus, from the shortness of their wings, ill- 
orrned for flying, and, from the uncommon shortness of 
‘ e ir legs, utterly unfitted for walking, they seldom leave 
x e water, and chiefly frequent those broad, shallow pools 
J 'ere their faculty of swimming can be turned to the 
^test advantage, in fishing and seeking their prey. 
1 hey are chiefly, in England, seen to frequent the marshes 
‘Shropshire and Cheshire; where they breed among reeds 
■a i % s > ‘ n a floating nest. It is never seen on land ; 
I o, though disturbed ever so often, will not leave that 
d , e where alone, by diving and swimming, it can find food 
;' lcl security. It is chiefly sought for the skin of its breast, 
''' plumage of which is of a most beautiful silvery white, 
n r»r\ gloss y as satin - • nn 
VJ t the grebe kind there are about thirteen species. 1 he 
t u° st . common is the crested grebe. The eared Grebe is 
yf s >ze of a teal, and is distinguished by a tuft of orange 
j g 0l,re d feathers, which spring from behind each eye ; it 
* native of Siberia. There is a still more beautiful 
pecies, viz. the red-necked grebe ; the chin of which is 
e a sh colour, the rest of the neck of a reddish chesnut. 
