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are difficult to discover. The local 

 Chinese name for them is " water 

 ghost " , or " s-wu-lu " , given because 

 of their seeming power of mysterious 

 disappearance. 



THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 



COLYMBUS CRISTATUS L. 

 (Podiceps Cristatus (L.) ) 



Description. — Length 22 inches. 



Bill, red at the base and dark on 

 top, with a horn colored tip. Feet 

 and legs, greenish. 



There is a long reddish-brown crest 

 and a ruff of the same color on the 

 neck. The sides of the neck and nape 

 are yellowish-brown, lores nearly white. 

 The back is dark irridescent brown. 

 The throat and upper breast are tinged 

 reddish-brown. The abdomen is sil- 

 very grey. The secondaries are white, 

 the tertiaries buff and the wing a 

 dusky black. 



The female has a smaller crest. 

 The head and neck are reddish brown. 

 Breast white in the center, with grey 

 sides, sometimes washed with yellow. 

 Her legs are orange. 



" The distinguishing mark of both 

 sexes are the lores which are nearly 

 white at all seasons." 



" Immature birds have no crest or 

 ruff and are dark ashy brown above, 

 white below ; secondaries and lower 

 scapulars white as in adults." 



Distribution. — Europe, Australia, 

 Africa, and Asia. In China it is com- 

 mon generally in suitable localities. It 

 winters in the lower Yangtse Valley, 

 preferring the larger and more open 

 bodies of water. It breeds in the 



