BRITISH BIRDS, 
142 
OF THE GREBES. 
The bills of this genus are compreffed on the 
fides, and though not large, are firm and ftrong, 
ftraight and fliarp-pointed : noftrils linear : a bare 
fpace between the bill and the eyes : tongue night- 
ly cloven at the end : body deprefled : feathers 
thickly fet, compadi:, very fmooth and glofly : wings 
ftiort ; fcapulars long ; no tail : legs placed far be- 
,hind, much compreffed, or flattened on the fides, 
and ferrated behind with a double row of notches ", 
toes furniflied on each fide with membranes; the 
inner toes broader than the outer ; the nails broad 
and flat. 
This genus is ranked by Ray and Linnaeus with 
the Diver and Guillemot ; but as the Grebes differ 
materially from thofe birds, Briffon, Pennant, and 
Latham have feparated them. 
The Grebes are almofl continually upon the wa- 
ter, where they are remarkable for their agility : at 
fea they feem to fport with the waves, through 
which they dart with the greatefl eafe, and, in 
fwimming. Aide along, as it were without any ap- 
parent effort, upon the furface, with wonderful velo- 
city ; they alfo dive to a great depth in purfuit of 
their prey. They frequent frefh water lakes and in- 
lets of rivers, as well as the ocean, to which they 
are obliged to refort in fevere feafons, when the 
