Chippe-wa Bird IT; ines, Cooke. 
126— —Thick-billed Grebe. Podilymbtis fiodicefis. Shin'-gi-bis, de¬ 
formed. 
We may„.closle these notes by giving one of the Indian stories by which 
they account for this name as applied to the Grebes. 
Once on a time the Great Spirit looked down on all the beasts and birds 
and saw that their lives were one dull round of monotonous toil. So he 
told them to assemble at a certain place and he would teach them many 
beautiful games. He built an immense wigwam, and at the appointed 
time all were there except the Grebe. He made fun of the whole matter, 
and said he knew tricks enough already. While the Great Spirit was 
instructing the assemblage, the Grebe danced in derision before the door, 
and finally, emboldened by the forbearance of his master, ran into the 
room, and by dancing on the fire, put it out and filled the wigwam with 
smoke. Then the patience of the Great Spirit could stand it no longer, 
and giving the Grebe a kick, he exclaimed, “Deformed shalt thou go 
through this world for the rest of thy days 1 ” The imperial foot struck 
him just at the base of the tail. It knocked the body forward, but the 
legs remained behind, and the Grebe has ever since had the legs set so 
far back on the body that it cannot walk. 
zly, 1884,p,24P S-yt 
W. W. Gilman asks, June O. and O. “ the scientific name 
of what is called the Iiell- diver round here. ” In this sec¬ 
tion that name is given to the Dabchick—Bodilymbuspodiceps 
— Linn. Podiceps carolinensis — Lath. — Wm. Wood , East 
Windsor Hill , Conn. 
O.&O. IX. July. 1884. p.W- 
