THE GUILLEMOTS, DIVERS, AND GHEBES. 293 



3. The Grebes. 



The Great Crested Grebe, largest of our grebes, is found 



on our inland waters throughout the year. These grebes 



Great ^^®5 ^^ outward appearance, tailless ; but their 



Crested most distinctive and interesting feature is the 



^^ ^* remarkably lobed membrane of the toes. The 



present species is distinguished in summer by the presence 



of a brown crest and some long black feathers on the 



throat. It is no very unusual sight in the neighbourhood 



of the Broads to see several of these birds flying at a con- 

 siderable height. The food consists of fish and frogs, and 

 even aquatic larvse ; and the birds are known, for some 

 reason connected with their digestion, to swallow feathers, 

 a habit noted in several other groups. These feathers 

 are found in the castings. This grebe does not breed in 

 the north of Scotland. The floating nest of sedges is 

 continually added to. J^ggs, 4, over 2 inches ; dirty 

 white. 



The Red-necked Grebe is a smaller bird, with a grey 



