20 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



up in the 'castings' of fish-bones and other indigestible 

 portions of the bird's food. A recent observer has re- 

 corded the fact that old Grebes give their own feathers 

 to their young, while at a later stage the young some- 

 times pluck their parent's feathers for themselves. The 

 name ' Loon ' is misapplied to this species in some districts. 



THE BLACK=NECKED OR EARED 

 GREBE 



(Podicipes nigricollis). 



The Black-necked or Eared Grebe has for long been 

 suspected to breed exceptionally within the British Isles ; 

 but the first authenticated eggs in this country were 

 found in 1904. Details as to locality, and so on, are 

 rightly being withheld in order to prevent persecution 

 by collectors. The eggs are up to five in number, and are 

 yellowish white in colour. The nests have often solid 

 foundations under water, and numbers may be found close 

 together in countries where the species is common. 



THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK 



(Podicipes fluviatiiis). 



Plate 7. 



Of all the Divers and Grebes, the Dabchick is the most 

 familiar, for it is found on streams, ponds, and lakes 

 throughout the British Isles. In Scotland it is less 

 plentiful than in the other coiuitries ; but even there it 

 is found up to considerable elevations, and as far as the 

 outlying islands. In winter most of its haunts become 



