210 
BLACK-CHINNED GREBE. 
we have seen it much more diffused among- the 
Highland lochs, and vrc liavo shot it in Sutherland 
in June, in the full breeding dress. During winter 
it is common in the river Annan, and on looking 
down a reach, one or two may always be seen 
swiming and diving, and sometimes sporting with 
each other ; if the intruder shews himself, it imme- 
diately dives, and is not again seen ; taking refuge 
among the banks, or falling down the stream, 
until some cover is obtained. We have sometimes 
seen it surprised in clear water, when it would 
either seek refuge about the sides or endeavour to 
conceal itself under weeds at the bottom, the time 
that it can remain under water being almost in- 
credible. We never saw it attempt to save itself 
by flight, except onco, when we suddenly came up- 
on a party of four or five, towards evening, in very 
shallow water. Even in a circumscribed pool, 
diving seems almost its only resource ; the last spe- 
cimen we procured was taken in a small piece of 
water about ten feet square, where the bird might 
have escaped by flight, but it kept diving and at- 
tempting to get under the banks or weeds, until 
exhausted; during the while, the motions under 
water were beautifully seen ; when moving straight 
forward it is propelled by the wings, a sort of 
flight, but when turning, and we presume when 
seeking its food, it has an easy gliding motion, 
feet and wings being used as occasion requires, 
sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other ; 
and we were reminded of the graceful gliding 
