Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-13
Vol. XXI. Whole No. 1893. No, 2,

WI. AAll. WuDl6 NU. lUJJ. NU. 4.
to it as possble-which is usually long
gunshot-when the bird suddenly disap-
pears and swims away; whereepon the
! Indian knowing the direction it has taken
and calculating from previous observation
where it will again rise, paddles rapidly in
its supposed direction until it reappears,
when his gun is hastily discharged before
the bird can dive, either killing it instantly
or severely wounding him. The loon must
generally be killed outright, or the gunner
| is likely to lose his game for it will often
dive to the bottom, and, clinging to weeds
or stumps, prefer to drown rather than
grace the triumph ef its slayer.
The Pacific and Red-throated divers are
also occasional visitors on the coast, ap-
pearing principally in the late fall and win
ter mouths, and it is probable that they
| may be found as frequent inhabitants of
some OF the most unfrequented inland lakes
in the solitudes in which birds of this class
prefer to rear their young. In action and
habits they are similar to the looms, but of
| smaller size and less conspicuous plumage.
The grebes, though bringing up the rear
in the singular army of divers, are no less
interesting than their larger and more strik
Ing relations. This family is represented
by five membership Western, California,
Horned, Crested and Little of Pied-bill
2rebes-wth, possibly, a sixth, called
Clarke's Grebe in the catalogue of the Gov
ernment collections at the Smithsonian In
stiIute in Washington, but which is proba-
bly, a variety of the Western grebe. They
are more common in fresh water than salt
though found on both, and are distinguish
ed by a bottle-shaped form. legs set so far
behind that they seem to grow almost out
OF the back, dull brown color, and peculiar
satiny feathers upon the belly, which, with
their skin, are in much demand at certain
times allotted by Dame Fashion for feather
trimmings for ladies' cloaks and for mutis
aud boas. Though the personiiication of
clumsiness upon land, in the water they
are surprisingly nimble. and gunner must
have quick powder and eye combined to
shoot at them with any hope OF success.
The nest OF the little grebe, or dabchick as
1t IS commonly called, is a singular struct-
ure, being often built upon the water
where it either hoats about or is anchored
TO still water grasses, and makes so poor
an ark that the eggs are sometimes half
submerged. The WAGER is usually warm
during the breeding season, however and
the eggs seldom fail of Matching. and, as
weasels and other enemies OF the eggs and
young birds are kept alOot by the watery
barrier. the counting OF her chickens be-
fore they are hatched may be considered "A
not unWarranted proceeding on the part of
the grebe mother, in spite of her, ut tir ST
tght,nnfayorable surroundings.
TIE ALBArRossEs.
The Great or Wandering AltatroSs, the
largest species of sea-bird extant whose
huge form ana curtaln-llhe wings are well
known 70 FoyaGcFs IN southern seas. is
seldom seen ;tN lar north as San-t ranciSco,
but a representatives OF its genus-the
short tailed, YeIIOW-noSed and sn0ty alba
t.os>es-are not unfamiliar To our sallorS.lt
Is worth mentioning As the leading repre-
-entati"n OF a most Interesting class OF
BIRDS aud one which Colcrid@e has en-
bAimed in the weird verse OF his "Ancieut
MaUAeI, III which he has given an almost
complete Summary OF the habits OF the
brd anu ne >uprrNttlous OF sailors regard
iHG u. Il : great reiiet t. the monotouE
OF 4 sea voyage 10 watch these birds IA
their hight day after day alter the vessel,
easily rucIu@ around II rs it proceeds,
nud eagerly watching for any scraps that
nay be hro%h overheard. Il i easily
caught with hook baited with pork and
hauled ON board. where II makes itself quite
at ome.but it, capture has is drawbacks.
for it is frequently rendered sea sick when
placed upon the pitching deck, upon which
occasion It acts much like any other victim
OF the m't re Mer. much 10 the disgust Of
officers and crew. This blrd.aS well as he
others ot ilN class, possesses the peculiar
property OF sailing. without any perceptl-
bic movement OF its wings, almost against
the wind. Jhcir wings being SO placed IL
to pc trimmed Ike the sail. Of vessels uu-
der similar circumstances. 1t is easy to dis
tin@ui>h an albatross from any other sea
bra by ltS immense size, but TO determine
one from another i more difficult. The
short-taiIed aIbatroNS IS rarely seen oil this
coast the yctow-no>ed is easily distin-
9u!>hed by it, pure white runlp, lead col
oIcd tail and bright yellow base of bill and
the more common Sooty NAV be known by
i(> dark piuma2e and wedged->haped tan.
II ! Il rather singular and lneNplicabIe fact
th"t the young OF all these varieties are
more frequently met with here than the
more mature specimens, but am not pre-
pared to advance theory n