RED-NECKED GREBE 



-'-'/ 



greenish-white cgi^s, invested at first in the usual chalky coatini; ; the 

 lent^th of these varying from about 2 to 2^^ inches. When the whole 

 clutch (usually four) is laid and the hen begins to sit, she carefully 

 covers the eggs with weeds or other vegetable substance every time she 

 leaves the nest, this being done apparently for the purpose of keeping 

 them warm. Were it for concealment, the process would commence 

 as soon as the first egg was laid ; but, as has been well remarked, white 

 eggs are very inconspicuous among the lights and shadows of a reed- 

 brake. Although they will at other times readily take wing, when 

 their nest is approached these grebes always endeavour to escape, and 

 perhaps to distract attention from their nurser}', by swimming away 

 rapidly, and then diving. If the nest be robbed, the hen will frequently 

 resume laying. Both birds are exceedingly attentive parents, feeding 

 their young with small eels and other food suited to the calibre of their 

 gullets, and, it is said, instructing them in the art of diving by taking 

 them below the surface carefully ensconced beneath their own wings. 



„ , , J ^ 1. In the red-necked grebe the length of the beak is 

 Red-neeked Grebe . f f • , , 



,p ,. . even proportionately greater than m the larger 



. . . species, so that the species is included by some 

 g-riseigena). ^. . , ^ , , -^ 



writers in the same genus, under the name of 



LopJicetJiyia gfiseigejia, in place of being designated by the title here 

 used. It has also ornamental head-plumes in summer, which chiefly 

 take the form of a pair of shortish tufts on the crowMi of the head ; the 

 throat-frill being inconspicuous. In size the cock is about equal to the 

 hen of the great crested species, its total length being approximately 

 1 8 inches. Apart from these features, the species is easily recognised 

 by the distinctive colouring from which it takes its popular and scien- 

 tific names, the one referring to the chestnut neck and the other to 

 the pearl-grey cheeks. With a beak orange at the base and blackish 

 elsewhere, the bird in summer - costume is characterised by the 

 blackish-brown crown of the head, head-tufts, the back of the neck, and 

 the upper-parts generally ; in striking contrast to which are the pearl- 

 grey of the cheek and the bright chestnut of the sides of the neck, 

 continued for some distance as a stripe along each flank ; the sides and 

 breast being ashy grey with dusky mottlings. In winter the head- 

 ornaments disappear ; the colour of the upper-parts changes to greyish 

 brown ; while the face, the fore part of the neck, and tlic breast 

 assume that shimmering satin-like whiteness which causes this part 

 of the plumage of both the present species and its larger cousin to 

 be so much sought after for trimmings and other portions of ladies' 



