244 
THE GREBE. 
prepared to plunge at a moment’s notice. So rapid, 
indeed, are their movements, that, on seeing the 
flash of a gun, they can dive into security, below the 
water, before the shot can reach them, as the fol- 
lowing account will show. 
“As I was out shooting,” writes an eye-witness, 
“ I saw one of these birds swimming towards a point 
of land, where I could easily conceal myself: so I 
repaired thither for that purpose. He came on- 
wards with a wild anxious gait, constantly turning 
his head from side to side, as if to be upon his guard 
against an enemy. I had arrived at the place, ancl 
the bird was approaching. Now and then, as he 
came on, he stretched his long neck, for several 
seconds, under the water, looking for small fish ; and 
when he had nothing better to do, he turned his 
head round, in order to tickle his tail with his bill. 
Watching the moment when he was so engaged, I 
fired, at the distance of thirty yards. My gun went 
quick as lightning, but the Grebe went quicker, 
and scrambling over, out of sight, came up again in 
a few seconds, perfectly unhurt.” 
The skins of these birds, from their beautifully soft 
and silky texture, make valuable tippets for ladies; 
and form an article of trade from North America, 
and other countries where they abound. They are 
chiefly taken by the Indians, who contrive to kill 
them at great distances, using a large quantity of 
powder and very little shot ; and they have also a 
way of enticing them by a particular call, and a red 
rag at the end of a stick — methods which they prac- 
tise with great success. 
One of the most common in our country, and, at 
