Members of the family of Grebes are to be found in the temperate zones
of both hemispheres, beyond which they do not extend very far either to
the north or south. They are usually found on ponds or large sheets of
stagnant water, sometimes on deep, slow-moving streams; but always where
sedges and rushes are abundant. Probably there are no birds better
entitled to the name of water fowl than the Grebes--at least, observers
state that they know of no others that do not on some occasions appear
on dry land. It is only under the most urgent circumstances, as, for
instance, when wounded, that they approach the shore, and even then they
keep so close to the brink that on the slightest alarm they can at once
plunge into the water. Whatever they do must be done in the water; they
cannot even rise upon the wing without a preliminary rush over the
surface of the lake. From dry land they cannot begin their flight. Their
whole life is spent in swimming and diving. They even repose floating
upon the water, and when thus asleep float as buoyantly as if they were
made of cork, the legs raised to the edges of the wings, and the head
comfortably buried among the feathers between the back and shoulder.
Should a storm arise, they at once turn to face the blast, and are
usually able, with their paddle-like feet, to maintain themselves in the
same place. They dive with great facility, and make their way more
swiftly when under water than when swimming at the top. When flying the
long neck is stretched out straight forwards and the feet backwards. In
the absence of any tail, they steer their course by means of their
feet. When alarmed they instantly dive.
Their food consists of small fishes, insects, frogs, and tadpoles.
Grebes are peculiar in their manner of breeding. They live in pairs, and
are very affectionate, keeping in each other's company during their
migrations, and always returning together to the same pond. The nest is
a floating one, a mass of wet weeds, in which the eggs are not only kept
damp, but in the water. The weeds used in building the nests are
procured by diving, and put together so as to resemble a floating heap
of rubbish, and fastened to some old upright reeds. The eggs are from
three to six, at first greenish white in color, but soon become dirty,
and are then of a yellowish red or olive-brown tint, sometimes marbled.
The male and female both sit upon the nest, and the young are hatched in
three weeks. From the first moment they are able to swim, and in a few
days to dive. Having once quitted the nest they seldom return to it, a
comfortable resting and sleeping place being afforded them on the backs
of their parents. "It is a treat to watch the little family as now one,
now another of the young brood, tired with the exertion of swimming or
of struggling against the rippling water, mount as to a resting place on
their mother's back; to see how gently, when they have recovered their
strength, she returns them to the water; to hear the anxious, plaintive
notes of the little warblers when they have ventured too far from the
nest; to see their food laid before them by the old birds; or to witness
the tenderness with which they are taught to dive."
BIRD DAY IN THE SCHOOLS--Continued from page 129.
the singing of their feathered brothers of the air. Call attention to
their beauty and grace of form, plumage and movement. Watch them care
for their little ones. Notice their nests--their happy little
homes--those "halfway houses on the road to heaven," and as you and your
flock wander, watch and listen and call to mind that,
"'Tis always morning somewhere, and above
The awakening continents, from shore to shore,
Somewhere the birds are singing evermore."
Let us, fellow teachers and fellow citizens of America, take up this
work of bird study and bird protection. Let the schools teach it, the
press print it, and the pulpit preach it, till from thousands of happy
throats shall be proclaimed the glad tidings of good will of man towards
the birds.
C. H. MORRILL,
_Supt. of Schools_.
Fort Madison, Iowa.
* * * * *
We are in receipt almost daily of letter inquiries for good literature
on birds, and suitable exercises for Bird Day Programs.
It will be our purpose from time to time to suggest good works by the
best authors.
We give below a list of publications that are especially fine, and shall
be pleased to supply them at the list price, as indicated, or as
premiums for subscribers to "BIRDS."
"#Birds Through an Opera Glass,#" 75 cents, or two subscriptions.
"#Bird Ways,#" 60 cents, or two subscriptions.
"#In Nesting Time,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#A Bird Lover of the West,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#Upon the Tree Tops,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#Wake Robin,#" $1.00, or three subscriptions.
"#Birds in the Bush,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#A-Birding on a Bronco,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#Land Birds and Game Birds of New England,#" $3.50, or eight
subscriptions.
"#Birds and Poets,#" $1.25, or three subscriptions.
"#Bird Craft.#"
"#The Story of Birds,#" 75 cents, or two subscriptions.
"#Hand Book of Birds of Eastern North America,#" $3.00, or seven
subscriptions.
In numbers 70, 63, 4, 28 and 54 of the Riverside Series, published by
Houghton, Mifflin & Co, may be found selections appropriate for Bird Day
Programs, and in the "Intelligence," of April 1, published by E. O.
Vaile, Oak Park, Illinois, may be found some interesting exercises for
Bird Day Programs. Copies of the paper may be obtained at eight cents.
[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
BOHEMIAN WAX-WING.]