EARED GKEBE. 135 



portions of Norway, Sweden and Finland ; but it breeds 

 sparingly in Poland, Northern Germany, and, according to 

 Mr. Benzon, in Thy, north-western Jutland, whence he has 

 obtained several clutches of eggs, and the bird. Southwards 

 this species is found breeding in suitable localities through- 

 out the whole, or greater part of Europe, being especially 

 abundant in some of the marshes on both sides of the 

 Mediterranean, and in Morocco. According to Mr. Layard 

 either this, or a representative form, breeds in South Africa. 

 Our bird has been found in Egypt ; also on Lake Ashangi, 

 in Abyssinia ; breeds in abundance in the marshes of Pales- 

 tine; and is found across the continent of Asia to Japan, 

 and China as far south as Amoy in winter, at which season 

 Mr. Hume found it common along the Sind and Mekran 

 coasts. In North America it is replaced by a distinguish- 

 able form, P, californicns, which has the primaries entirely 

 dark, the first two secondaries being almost the same ; 

 whereas in our bird the inner four primaries are white 

 throughout : the rest of the primaries, and the majority of 

 the secondaries, being mostly white. 



The Eared Grebe makes its nest on inland lakes and 

 ponds ; and Canon Tristram found it breeding on Lake 

 Halloula, in Algeria, in societies more densely crowded than 

 any rookery. The nests are described as raised on artifi- 

 cial islets, frequently almost touching each other, and some- 

 times piled on stout foundations rising from more than a 

 yard under water. Mr. Benzon states that the nests ob- 

 tained in Denmark were not floating amongst the rushes, 

 but were on tussocks on the edges of the lake, though in 

 places where the water was deep and clear. The nests were 

 made chiefly of moss, with which the female covered her 

 eggs on leaving them. Incubation appears to take place 

 later with this species than with its congeners ; both parents 

 take their turn, and should one be killed the other will con- 

 tinue sitting, and rear the young. The eggs, four or five in 

 number, are originally of a yellowish-white, but frequently 

 become soiled and stained to a dark brown colour ; average 

 measurements I'fi by 1"L5 in. 



