The Great Crested Grebe 



TWO species of Grebes breed in the British 

 Islands. The Lesser Grebe, or Dab- 

 chick, and the bird under notice. 



The Great Crested Grebe measures about 

 twenty-two inches in length. The facts that 

 its body is long and cone-shaped, and that its 

 legs are placed far back, render it an excel- 

 lent swimmer, either on the water or under 

 it, but a very poor walker. As a matter of 

 fact the bird does not often try the latter 

 means of locomotion, and when it does so 

 appears very awkward and ungainly. Al- 

 though its wings are short and small it can 

 fly well. 



The Great Crested Grebe inhabits lakes, 

 meres, and large ponds, where reed beds, in 

 in which it can take shelter and breed, grow. 

 Its food consists of small fish, frogs, water 

 beetles and aquatic insects. 



The nest is built amongst reeds or bul- 

 rushes. Sometimes it is a floating structure 



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