BLACK-NECKED GREBE. 315 



but carries its neck more erect. The distinctive summer 

 characters, in addition to glossy black upper parts, are the 

 silky golden-straw feathers which extend across the ear-coverts, 

 fanned out over the cheeks, and the rich copper tlanks. In 

 winter the slender, uptilted bill distinguishes it from the Horned 

 Grebe, and in the hand it can further be told by the white 

 which extends from the secondaries to the inner webs of the 

 primaries. This white is usually hidden by the puffed-out 

 flank feathers when the bird is swimming, but shows plainly in 

 flight or when the wings are flapped. The bird swims 

 buoyantly, unless alarmed sitting high ; the erectile feathers of 

 the crown usually rise abruptly from the bill, giving the appear- 

 ance of a ver>' high forehead, but there are no distinct ear- 

 tufts. The duration of timed dives was never more than thirty 

 seconds, and when the bird dived amongst potamogeton and 

 other water plants was often under ten. Molluscs and aquatic 

 insects are eaten, and I have seen small fish given to the young. 

 Insects are captured on the surface with the rapid right 

 and left snatches of a Phalarope. I saw one bird feeding on 

 caddis worms ; it bit and shook the case until the larva was 

 ejected. The calls are soft, and the trill, not unlike that of 

 the Dabchick, is less of a rattle and rather short, though loud 

 and clear. The hunger-cry of the young is milder and quieter 

 than that of the Great Crested.. The nuptial display, so far 

 as I saw it, had much similarity to that of the larger bird ; 

 there was the same upright pose, breast facing breast, gently 

 toying with one another's bills, dipping of the head and neck, 

 and approach with necks outstretched on the water. 



The nest, similar to that of the Dabchick, is a large collection 

 of decaying weed, usually floating, moored amongst pond-weed, 

 bog-bean, or other aquatic vegetation. Three or four eggs are 

 normal ; they are of the same blue tint as those of the Great 

 Crested, and are coated with a chalky deposit which is speedily 

 stamed with brown and green. Mr. Jourdain gives the average 



