DABCHICK 



233 



they swim and dive quite heedless of passing trains in their usual self- 

 possessed manner ; and the species is not unknown on the ornamental 

 waters of the London parks. Diving is, perhaps, the most characteristic 

 trait in the habits of these pretty little water-birds ; and the name dab- 

 chick appears to be a derivative from the same root as the word " dip." 



Dabchicks form an extensive sub-group of grebes represented by 

 species ranging over the whole of the northern hemisphere, and likewise 

 occurring in South Africa and Australia ; and it is not a little note- 

 worthy that in the latter country we may find such an essentially 

 European type swimming side by 

 side with that strangest of all mam- 

 mals, the exclusively antipodean duck- 

 billed platypus. All the dabchicks 

 are small birds (the present species 

 not exceeding 9^ inches in length 

 and 10 ozs. in weight), and are further 

 characterised by the relative shortness 

 of the shank, or lower segment of the 

 leg, which is inferior in length to the 

 middle front toe with its claw, and the 

 absence of head-crests. In summer- 

 plumage the crown of the head, the 

 back of the neck, and the upper-parts 

 generally, together with the lower 

 portion of the neck and the sides of 

 the body of the European dabchick, 

 are dark brown ; the cheeks, throat, 

 and the front of the neck dark chest- 

 nut-red, or rusty ; and the breast white, 

 strongly tinged with dark grey. In winter the whole plumage assumes 

 a paler tint, especially on the breast, while the chestnut-red of the neck 

 vanishes, and the chin becomes white instead of black. In this con- 

 dition the adults, so far as colouring is concerned, are indistinguishable 

 from birds of the year. The chick, in this respect, is practically a 

 miniature of the great grebe, although somewhat darker in tone, and 

 without the bare red patch on the crown of the head. 



The geographical range of the dabchick includes the greater 

 portion of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, not excepting 

 Japan, as far north in Scandinavia as latitude 62'^ ; while southwards 

 it embraces Northern Africa and Asia Minor. In Asia the Himalaya 

 and its eastward continuation form an impassable barrier to the species. 



HE ROWLAND ' 



]X\BCHICK. 



