The Great Crested Grebe 

 THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE 



Podicipes cristatus (Unnasus) 



In the course of these pages we have often had to lament 

 the extermination or decrease of many species, so that it is 

 a real pleasure to have to record that a fine species like the 

 present has increased abundantly of late years. 



This has been largely brought about by very strict 

 protection, and although still local, there are many places 

 where it is now common, and in Scotland it breeds on 

 several lochs as far north as Aberdeenshire. In Ireland 

 also it nests in several localities. It is practically a 

 resident and may be found with us at all times of the year, but 

 after the breeding season the majority leave their summer 

 haunts and may be found in the estuaries and bays along 

 the coast. The nest is a large floating mass of decaying 

 vegetation generally well hidden among thick reeds, though 

 occasionally it is placed in the open. The eggs, usually four 

 in number, are yellowish white when first laid, but soon 

 become stained to a dirty brown from contact with the 

 decaying vegetable matter with which they are always 

 covered when the sitting bird leaves the nest. The young 

 when first hatched are dark brown, longitudinally striped 

 with white ; they are carefully tended by both their parents, 

 who often carry them on their backs. The food consists of 

 fish, crustaceans, and any other living food which may be 

 found. 



This bird may usually be seen swimming about in the 



387 



