_Diver._
_Podiceps Dominicus._
_Colymbus Dominicus_, +Linn.+
_Podiceps Dominicus_, +Lath.+—Spix. Av. Br. 101.
[138] Length 9 inches, expanse 14, flexure 3⁶⁄₁₀, tail 0, rictus
1³⁄₁₀, tarsus 1³⁄₁₀, middle toe 1³⁄₄, lateral breadth of tarsus
⁷⁄₁₀, breadth of toe ⁴⁄₁₀. Irides bright yellow; feet and beak
black. Upper parts smoky black; wing-quills white; outer webs and
tips of the first four or five dusky. Chin black; throat and cheeks
blackish ashy; breast blackish; belly feathers tipped with white,
giving a mottled appearance. Whole plumage satiny. Intestine 16
inches; two cæca ³⁄₄ inch long.
The ponds of the cattle-pens are the favourite resorts of this little
Grebe. I have been most familiar with it at the pond of Mount
Edgecumbe, which, though not more than an acre or two in extent, used
to be speckled with a good number of these miniature ducks; their
little black heads and the tops of their backs alone being visible
above the surface. On the slightest alarm, they dive with the quickness
of thought; and so vigilant is their eye and so rapid their motion,
that, ordinarily, the fowling-piece is discharged at them in vain. It
is commonly said of some birds, that they dive at the flash of the pan;
but though I always used percussion-locks, I could never succeed in
hitting one, until I formed a screen of bushes, behind which I might
fire in concealment. I then found no difficulty. Hence, I infer that
their quick eye detects and takes alarm at the small but sudden motion
of the falling hammer. They remain long, and swim far, under water;
coming up where quite unlooked for. Some that I have had an opportunity
of observing when swimming a little beneath the surface, shot along
with expanded wings, almost with the celerity of a fish. They do not
always dive, however, when frightened; sometimes they sink deeper than
before, and swim away almost submerged. When not alarmed, they call and
answer each other, with a loud _clang_, like the note of a trumpet.
One of these birds which I had wounded slightly, on being put into a
large washing-bowl half filled with water, swam awhile; but repeatedly,
when alarmed, by striking vigorously with both feet together, leaped
clean over the edge of the basin. When on the floor, it ran a few
steps at a time, very well, but grotesquely; the body elevated on the
legs almost perpendicularly; but ever and anon, as its first impetus
slackened, it fell on its breast, and sometimes rolled over. After a
while, however, becoming more calm, it walked more easily, still much
raised on the legs; but would suddenly squat down on the belly, and so
remain.
Early in August, I found near the edge of Mount Edgecumbe pond a nest
of this Grebe—a round heap of pond-weed and rotten leaves, flattened at
the top, and slightly hollowed; it was about fifteen inches wide, and
six or eight thick. The top was damp, but not wet, and very warm from
exposure to the sun’s rays. We drew it on shore, for it was entangled
among the branches of a fallen tree, but _not attached_ to them, and
presently found on the matted weed, just below the surface in the place
where we had dragged it, a large white egg, excessively begrimed with
dirt, doubtless from lying on the decaying leaves. On being cleansed, I
found it covered with a chalky coat, easily scratched off.
A few weeks after, I again visited this pond. On approaching before
sun-rise, (for I had travelled by the brilliant starlight of the
tropical heavens,) I saw a Grebe sitting on a new nest, in the same
spot as I had found the former one: this nest was composed of similar
materials, and contained four eggs. Early in December we found another
nest, with the young just peeping from the egg. It is probable,
therefore, that several broods are reared in a season.
One of my lads, who has lived close by this pond, affirms that the
birds move the nest about to different parts of the pond; and that they
use the same till it will no longer hold together, and then construct
a new one. He also states that they often fight during the night; and
that the conquered ones resort to a smaller pond, where they may be
easily captured by hand: for, by chasing them to and fro, the small
pond being shallow, they at length become wearied, and will dive no
more, but make for the shore, and are caught before they can fly.
The flesh is dark and oily. The gizzards of all that I obtained were
filled with a finely comminuted substance, rather dry, of an unctuous
appearance, and mingled with short silky filaments. A close examination
with a lens failed to determine its nature; but I believe it to have
been principally vegetable.
* * * * *
* * * * *
The author, in bringing to a close these notices of “The Birds of
Jamaica,” craves the indulgence of his readers to make an observation
on the use of such studies. The Christian is taught, whatsoever
he does, to do all “to the glory of God;” and as “whoso offereth
_praise_ glorifieth” Him, the constant object of our investigations
should be the bringing out to view fresh proofs of His unspeakable
wisdom, skill, power, forethought, care, and love, in the creation,
preservation, and sustentation of His creatures. The gratification
of scientific curiosity is worse than idle, if it leads not to this:
whatever exactness of knowledge we may acquire, or whatever scientific
skilfulness we may attain, is, without this result, “but shaping
letters aright without learning to know their signification and
value.” “It is _God appearing in the creatures_, that is the life, and
beauty, and use, and excellency of all the creatures;—without Him they
are but carcases, deformed, useless, vain, insignificant, and very
nothings.”[139]
[139] Baxter’s “Walking with God,” Ch. i. ¶ 9.