SLAVONIAN GREBE 203 



blance between D. auritits and P. nigricoUis is closer, but the 

 upturned bill of the latter and the white on the inner primaries 

 will almost distinguish it. 



Range in Great Britain. — This Grebe is a winter visitor to Great 

 Britain, occurring on both east and wxst coasts of Scotland, 

 but in England and Ireland being much more seldom met with 

 on the west and south. On the east coast of England it is a 

 regular winter visitor. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The Slavonian or Horned 

 Grebe nests throughout Northern Europe and Siberia, as well 

 as in Iceland. It also occurs throughout North America, 

 where it breeds from the United States northward. It nests 

 sparingly in Denmark, and ranges south over Europe in winter, 

 when it visits the Mediterranean, while at the latter season it 

 has been known to reach the Bermudas. 



Habits. — The late Mr. Proctor, who visited Iceland in 1837, 

 has given the following account of the species : — " This bird 

 frequents the fresh waters, and nests amidst the reeds and other 

 rank herbage. The young birds, when first hatched, are 

 covered with grey-coloured down. No sooner does the old 

 bird perceive danger from any intruders than she instantly 

 dives and emerges at thirty or forty yards distance. One day 

 during my sojourn in Iceland, having seen one of these birds 

 dive from the nest, I placed myself with my gun at my 

 shoulder, waiting for its reappearance. As soon as it emerged, 

 I fired and killed it, and was surprised to see two young ones, 

 which it seems had been concealed beneath the wings of the 

 parent bird, drop upon the water. I afterwards shot several 

 other birds of this species, all of which dived with their young 

 under their wings. The young birds were placed with their 

 heads towards the tail, and their bills resting on the back of 

 the parent bird." 



Seebohm relates that the well-known naturalist, Dr. Kriiper, 

 once found a nest, the eggs of which were highly incubated, and 

 listened to the cries of the female on the nest, while the male 

 attempted to frighten him away by suddenly rising out of the 

 water in front of him, splashing with his feet in the water, and 

 joining his cries to those of its mate. So persistent was it 



