58 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
But in the water, the Grebes are remarkably 
active : they fwim, dive, cut the water, and run 
upon the furface, fkimming the waves with afto~ 
nifhing fwiftnefs. It is faid, that they never move 
more fwiftly than when they are under water: 
they dive after fifh to a prodigious depth. ‘The 
fithermen often take them in their nets. 
Grebes frequent both the fea and frefh-water 
lakes, When they build their nefts in the hol- 
lows of rocks, they muft fly into them, becaufe 
they cannot climb: and their little ones, when 
they leave the neft, muft fall into the water. 
Upon lakes, the Grebe builds a floating neft : 
it is always wet, but it cannot be cartied away by © 
the ftream, becaufe it is fixed amongft the reeds. 
The neft is formed of water-plants, of the ftalks — 
of the water-lily, pond-weed, and water-violets. 
- ‘The old Grebe feeds the young ones with eels, 
and will carry them, when they are tired, on her 
back. Muffs and tippets are made of the feathers 
of their breafts, which are very white and. glofly, — 
and foft and-warm, 
_ There are many kinds of Grebes, and they are ’ 
of very different fizes. One is called’ the Great 
-€refted Grebe: this is found on the lakes of 
Shropfhire and Chefhire, and on the fens of Lin- 
colnfhire. : 
The 

