THE GREBE. 
243 
them for a more exclusively water life. It is divided 
into four genera: — 1. Grebes, or Divers ; 2. Guille- 
mots; 3. Auks, or Puffins; 4. Penguins. 
The Grebes, which take precedence in this list of 
the short-winged tribe, are the only birds whose 
habits lead them to pass comparatively peaceful lives, 
on the less agitated surfaces of our inland lakes and 
meres ; the others being all, more or less, sea-birds, 
whose dwelling-place, when on land, is on wild rocks, 
exposed to storm and tempest, of which they take no 
heed, defended as they are by a rich coat of glossy 
plumage, whose smooth and oily surface is impene- 
trable to water. 
The Grebes, though classed amongst the palmated 
or web-footed families, nevertheless, in some species 
at least, differ from them in one respect, — having only 
partial webs ; the toes being flattened and furnished 
with what is called lobes or membranes, like those of 
the Coot. They are unsocial solitary birds, seldom 
more than a pair being seen together; and withal, 
so shy, that it requires all the address and skill of a 
keen sportsman to get within shot; though the inex- 
perienced may think it an easy matter so to do, when 
he sees one of them apparently dozing within a few 
yards of the rushy confines of a pool of water. But 
the Grebe is neither sleeping nor off his guard; as the 
gunner would know, were he near enough to watch 
the motions of the wary bird. He would then see 
its clear penetrating eye glancing in every direction, 
alive to the approach of friend or foe, and, if suspi- 
cious of danger, its body gradually sinking, until the 
upper part of it only remained visible, and its sharp 
lance-shaped head thrown hack on its slender neck, 
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