416 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Female similar to the male. Young extremely different 
from the adult, not assuming their full dress before the second 
year of their life. Adult generally greatly distinguished by 
crest and ruffs. Moult in spring and autumn, changing 
greatly th.eir colors, and periodically losing their ornaments. 
Plumage remarkably thick, compact and silky, beneath glos- 
sy. Colors blackish above, beneath silvery white. 
Exclusively aquatic. Live, sleep and breed on the water r 
keep chiefly on fresh water, very active, swim and dive 
admirably, springing in the water, moving rapidly on or 
below the surface ; when submerged the neck is stretched, 
the body elongated, and the wings brought close to it, in 
order to offer the least resistance, paddling with great speed, 
the feet moving laterally ; descending to great depths in pur- 
suit of fish ; owing to which they are often caught in fisher- 
men’s nets. Migrate by water : when cast on shore, move 
their feet and wings unsuccessfully for a long time ; never come 
willingly to land, except to breed : hardly able to walk, 
standing erect on account of the position of their legs. Flight 
limited, when elevated, sufficiently rapid. Feed on fishes^ 
reptiles, insects, and occasionally on water plants. Breed in 
submerged marshes, fixing their nest to reeds and marsh plants 
near fresh w T ater, often afloat : nest composed of dry grass, 
lined with down from their own bodies : eggs 3 — 6, which 
they cover until down and abandon reluctantly. Young 
covered with soft down, beautifully spotted, led by both parents 
into the water, and soon able to provide for themselves. The 
mother swims with her young on her back, and keeps them 
under her wing when diving. 
Spread all over the world, but chiefly Arctic, most of the 
species retiring in summer to cold regions to breed. 
f Bill slender from the base, subcylindric, point straight, 
subulate. Nostrils elongated. 
