EGGS OF BEITISH BIRDS. 81 



lap, but never in the sanie egg. This is also the case with the 

 eggs of the Black-necked and Sclavonian Grebes, which are 

 always smaller. 



THE SCLAVONIAN GBEBE. 

 {Podicipes cornutus.)* 



Plate 22, Fig. 8. 



The Sclavonian or Horned Grebe is a semi- Arctic species, and is 

 only a winter visitor to the British Islands. It is a circumpolar 

 bird, but does not breed north of the Arctic circle, except in 

 Norway. In Europe it is only found on migration, or in winter 

 south of the Baltic. It breeds in Greenland and Iceland, Scan- 

 dinavia, Kussia, and less frequently in Denmark. In Asia it is 

 extremely abundant in South-west Siberia, the basin of Lake 

 Baikal, and in Dauria, but appears to be rarer on the Lower 

 Amoor. On the American Continent it breeds in Alaska and 

 throughout British North America south of the Arctic circle. 



It makes a nest near the banks of lakes, which, like those of its 

 allies, is generally a floating structure composed of decayed water 

 plants, amongst which it is placed. Kriiper occasionally found it 

 on a tussock of grass in the water, and once on a stone. The 

 number of eggs never exceeds five. They are of precisely the 

 same shape and colour as those of the allied species. They vary 

 in length from 1*9 to 1'6 inch, and in breadth from 1"2 to 11 inch. 

 They are smaller than eggs of the Bed-necked Grebe and larger 

 than those of the Little Grebe, but are indistinguishable from 

 eggs of the Black-necked Grebe. 



THE BLACK-NECKED GKEBE. 



(Podicipes nigricollis.) 

 Plate 22, Fig. 11. 

 The Black-necked or Eared Grebe is chiefly known in our 

 islands as a rare visitor on spring and autumn migration, though 

 a few have been obtained during winter, and it is believed to have 

 bred in Norfolk. The Black-necked Grebe has a somewhat 

 similar range to that of the Little Grebe. It is a resident in the 



* Podicipes auritus (Linn.) — Saunders, Manual, p. 705. 



