360 LITTLE GREBE. 



she " leaves the nest by diving ; no bird is seen, but a 

 motion is discerned in the surrounding reeds Hke a 

 pike making his way through them, but slower and 

 more regular. . . . The female seldom rises within 

 gunshot of the nest, and, if a boat be stationed to 

 intercept her, will tack about and alter her course 

 under water without rising to breathe. . . . No sooner 

 do they build a nest than they become the most skulk- 

 ing, diving, hiding creatures possible ; indeed when a 

 pool of water is much overgrown with reeds you can 

 hardly ever catch sight of them, even if several pairs 

 are breeding around you." 



The general colour of the upper parts of this bird is 

 greyish brown, the feathers having paler edges, and of 

 the under parts white, shading to brown on the flanks; 

 there is a ruff round the neck which is bright chestnut, 

 edged with black. 



LITTLE GREBE. 



PODICEPS MINOR. 



Family Podicipedid^. Genus Podiceps, 



Dabchick — Dobchick — Didapper — Blackchin. Grebe. 



The Little Grebe, or Dabchick as it is more 

 commonly called, is a common resident, found in all 

 districts of the British Isles which are suitable to its 

 habits, that is to say, wherever ponds, lakes, and slow- 

 running streams abound. 



The Dabchick feeds upon small fish and aquatic 

 insects ; most of its food is obtained by diving, at 

 which it is very expert. Frequently large quantities 

 of feathers, apparently its own, are found in the 



