. Half hours with fishes, reptiles, and birds . of the grebe differs much from that of other swimmingbirds, having lobes upon three of the toes, but not uniting them as in the\ duck, where the webconnects the western grebeand the pied-billedgrebe (Fig. 121) areattractive forms, theheads especially be-ing beautiful andjaunty. The grebesare famous swim-fig. ™ers and are very r- ——-cunning, often coming to the surface with only the tip ofthe bill exposed, thus givingthe impression that they re-main below for an indefiniteperiod. A little grebe kept atSanta Catalina was almost
. Half hours with fishes, reptiles, and birds . of the grebe differs much from that of other swimmingbirds, having lobes upon three of the toes, but not uniting them as in the\ duck, where the webconnects the western grebeand the pied-billedgrebe (Fig. 121) areattractive forms, theheads especially be-ing beautiful andjaunty. The grebesare famous swim-fig. ™ers and are very r- ——-cunning, often coming to the surface with only the tip ofthe bill exposed, thus givingthe impression that they re-main below for an indefiniteperiod. A little grebe kept atSanta Catalina was almosthelpless on land, makingscarcely any effort to fly, butonce in the water it was atype of activity. The nest ofthe crested grebe is formedof rushes, and is a veritablefloating island, upon whichthe eggs, from two to seven, are laid. The nest of theCastanean grebe, according to a French naturalist, is. Fig. 121.—Pied-billed Grebe. SOME OCEAN FLYERS 157 paddled about by the bird, which sits upon it with onefoot overboard at such times. These birds are all valuablefor their rich feathers, which are used as furs andtrimming. SOME OCEAN FLYERS Petrels and Gulls Among the grebes and sea birds there are many otherswith long, graceful, pointed wings — the gulls and theirallies. These areamong the mostattractive of birds;not for their colors,as they are almostalways gray, white,or black, but thecontrasts of tintare so marked, andtheir flight is sowell sustained thatthey are famousthe world over. On the Florida reef the laughing gull (Fig. 122) is avery common form, its victorious ha ha being heardat all times. Its black head and lighter body are con-spicuous objects far away. It follows the patient peli-cans about the reef, and when the latter secure a catch,drops down upon them, alighting on head or back, andsnatches the fish from the very mouths of the stupid peli-
Size: 1278px × 1955px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1906
