GREAT CRESTED GREBE 317 



proudly near the nest, driving off any bird that approaches 

 his eggs, as does a cock-swan. If the hen get away 

 from the nest, which she does by swimming first and 

 flying off some two hundred yards afterwards, he will go 

 at times to meet her, the pair swimming back to the floating 

 hover. 



When the young are hatched off, the family take to the 

 water, and you may see them feeding on flies from the top 

 of the water, or you may hear a great noise and splash- 

 ing in a quiet reed-bush, and come upon them feeding the 

 youngsters on small eels and fish — taken head first. At 

 other times you may see the youngsters sitting on the 

 old bird's back, after the manner of swans; and should 

 you disturb them, the youngsters will steal off her back, 

 some this way, some that, diving out of sight. They 

 carry their young long distances round the broad, or up 

 dikes, where they can catch their fish more easily. One 

 old gunner once took eleven small roach from a dead 

 grebe. If chased, they will fly under water like water- 

 hens. Yet with all their precautions, they seldom raise 

 more than three birds out of a clutch ; for the young 

 are not difficult to catch in shallow water, the Broadsmen 

 sometimes capturing them in " fleet broads " by aid of their 

 quants. 



They grow large and are almost full grown before they can 

 fly, for they are big eaters — flies, small eels, fish, and fresh- 

 water " clams " (mussels) being their staple foods. But in 

 hard weather, when the broads are frozen, they will eat grass 

 from the shores, and even corn, for they do not leave the 

 broads in winter, even when the broads are laid — that is, 

 unless every bit of water gets frozen hard as iron, when they 

 go away, returning as soon as the ice breaks up. When 

 the broads are laid, they will sometimes " huddle up " on the 

 ice, hoping for better days. 



Liggermen detest them ; for they will clear their liggers 

 of fish, never getting caught — "the artful owd varmin." 



