wlitifc remarkable quickness tbe Dabchick scratches the weeds over her eggs with her feet when she perceives 
herself observed, so as not to lead even to the suspicion that any were deposited on the ill-shapen floating 
mass: this work of an instant displays as much skill in deception as can well be imagined. The eggs 
thus covered, which were originally white, are so stained with the colouring-matter of the weeds, that 
they assume an unnatural appearance. One of the most interesting points in the bird’s history has yet 
to be detailed, namely, the peculiar colouring of its infantine age, or at the age of one or two days ; and 
as this state is very rarely seen, T have considered it advisable to illustrate it on the accompanying Plate. 
So active and truly aquatic is the Dabchick, even at this early period of its existence, that it is almost 
impossible to see it in a state of nature ; for immediately after the young birds are hatched they either take 
to the water of their own accord, or cling, when not more than an hour old, to the backs of their parents, 
who dive away with them out of harm’s way. To gain an intimate acquaintance with these little creatures, it 
would be well, if the morning of hatching could be ascertained, to take one or more of the eggs and place 
them in a small basket, lined with flannel or other warm material, before the fire, when the tiny occupants 
Avill soon crack their shells and emerge into the world ; in an hour their downy feathers will become dry, 
and the birds be ready to sit for their portraits. Such was the mode I adopted for procuring the subjects of 
tbe accompanying illustration. In another instance, when out fishing, a friend, Mr. Elliot of Chesham, 
shot a Dabchick Avhilst diving across a shalloAv stream ; on emerging, wounded, at the surface, tAvo young 
ones, clinging to her back, were caught in my landing-net. The delicate rose-coloured bills, harlequin-like 
markings, and rosy-Avhite aprons of these infant Dabchicks render them extremely Interesting, As they 
advance in age, these markings gradually give place to a uniform olive-grey plumage on the upper surface 
and silA"ery-grey on the abdomen — a style of dress characteristic of the adults in Avinter. 
The food of the Dabchick consists of insects of various kinds and their larvae, the fry of fishes, and doubt- 
less their ova. That fish are taken we have positive evidence from examples having been repeatedly picked 
up dead by the fishermen of the Thames, with a Bull-head or Miller’s Thumb (^Colins gobio) in their throats, 
and by which they had evidently been choked in the act of sAvalloAving them. That it is especially fond of insects 
is shown by the great activity it displays, Avhen in captivity, in capturing house-flies and other Diptera. Those 
Avho have visited Paris avIH probably have seen the Grebes in the AvindoAv of the restaurateur in the Rue de 
RiAmli. For years have a pair of these birds been llAing, apparently in the greatest enjoyment, Avithin the 
glass windoAv, attracting the admiration of all the passers-by. The extreme agility Avith Avhieh they sailed 
round their little prison, or scrambled over the half-submerged piece of rock for a fly, Avas very remarkable. 
That no bird can be more easily kept in a state of confinement is certain ; and it is to be regretted that 
neither the directors of the Crystal Palace Company at Sydenham, nor the Zoological Society in the 
Regent’s Park, have succeeded in procuring them for their ponds : for a more attractive object for tbe 
basins Avithin the Crystal Palace could scarcely be found. 
Tbe plumage of the adults in summer may be briefly described. The male has the crown of the head, all 
the upper surface, chest, and flanks olivaceous black ; abdomen sih ery black ; chin and bill jet-black ; sides 
of the neck and throat rich chestnut; irides dark broAvn ; feet greenish black, nails Avhite; gape greenish 
yelloAV ; inside of the mouth fleshy Avhite, tinged Avith green : weight 7 ounces. 
The female is very similar in colour, but somewhat smaller in size. 
In winter both sexes have tlie crown of the head and all the upper surface of the body silvery grey ; the 
upper mandible olive-brown ; under mandible fleshy white ; legs as in summer. 
The colouring of the young, from a day to a week old, is as folloAvs : bill rosy flesh-colour ; croAvn, neck, 
and upper surface downy black, with harlequin-like stripes of AAdiite about the sides of the head and face, 
and broad stripes of rich light chestnut-brown doAvn the front part of the neck and the whole of the upper 
surface ; the belly white. 
The Plate represents a male, a female, and a nest Avith a brood of young, a day old, all of the natural size. 
The plant is the Ranunculus flimiat'iUs, 
