BRITISH BIRDS.- 163 



2. Podiccps. p. griseigeiia. Red-necked 



Grebe. 

 P. auritus. Sclav onian 

 Grebe. 



3. Colymbns. C. glacialis. Great Northern 



Diver. 

 C. arcticus. Black-throated 

 Diver. 



Little Grebe, better known, perhaps, as tlie Dabchick. 

 — It has the head, back of neck, and back of a dark brown ; 

 the face, throat, and upper part of breast bright chestnut 

 brown ; the under parts are j];rey, marbled with darker 

 grey; the bill is horn -colour, and the lores j^'ellowish 

 cream ; the legs, placed very far back, ai'c greenish. 



It is generally distributed over the British Isles at all 

 seasons. As Morris says : " Its natural home is in the water, 

 both the open lake and the village pond, the gentle flowing 

 river and the still pool, the narrow streamlet, and at times 

 the edge of the open sea. In winter, when the frost has 

 cut oft' its usual supply of food, it betakes itself to the 

 nearest salt water, and is then to be found in bays and 

 seaside pools." 



In extreme length the dabchick measures about 10 

 inches. The nest is placed near water, among such vegeta- 

 tion as there obtains ; the eggs varj^ from four to six in 

 number, tapering in form, and of a dull white colour. The 

 young take to the water as soon as hatched, and the parents 

 collect food for them until they are able to cater for 

 themselves. 



It is a poor flyer, but swims and dives with admirable 

 ease and grace. 



Red-Necked Grebe. — Dark grey above, and red on the 

 neck and breast, the under parts white, except the lower 



