COLYMBID. 531 
frequently met with in these parts, it is the “ Dusky 
Grebe” of Bewick. 
The eggs when fresh laid are said to be of a 
bluish white. * 
LittLtE GrREBE or Dascuick, Podiceps minor. 
The little Dabchick is a much more common bird 
in our county than either of the Grebes before men- 
tioned: it remains with us all the year, and may be 
found in most of our ponds and pools and in many 
of the rhines in the marsh. In my pond I have only 
seen it once, and that was in September, 1865: it 
had been a very dry summer, and water was running 
unusually scarce throughout the county, so I sup- 
pose his native pool had been dried up and the poor 
little Dabchick driven to seek food and water some- 
where else: it seemed very tame and quite at home 
during its stay, which was not long: the Moorhens, 
I think, drove it away—at least they seldom left it 
long at peace. 
Yarrell says of this bird that its powers of flight 
appear to be limited; but it must occasionally make 
tolerably long flights; for instance, the one that 
came to my pond must have flown at least a mile, 
as there is no place within that distance from 
which it could possibly have come: it could not 
have made its way by water, and no Grebe 
would ever dream of walking a mile under any 
* Yarrell, vol. ii., p. 416. 
222 
