7o6 SLAVONIAN OR HORNED GREBE. 



in Alaska and throughout the Fur countries in summer, visiting the 

 northern portions of the United States in winter, and occasionally- 

 wandering to the Bermudas. Young birds have been met with in 

 the southern part of Greenland. 



The nest, which is rather large and floats on the surface of the 

 water, is composed of reeds and other aquatic plants ; the eggs, 

 2-4 in number, are of a bluisli-white colour when first laid, though 

 they soon become stained: average measurements 175 by i'25 in. 

 The female dives with the young under her wings, and Proctor 

 observed that the position of the nestlings was with their heads 

 towards the tail of the parent bird, their bills resting upon her back. 

 Messrs. Slater and Carter repeatedly noticed the adults swimming 

 under water after leaving the nest ; their legs — being practically 

 terminal instead of lateral members — giving them somewhat the 

 appearance of large frogs. The food of this species is similar to 

 that of its congeners. 



The adult in summer-plumage (figured on the left) has a tuft of 

 elongated pale chestnut feathers on each side of the head ; crown, 

 forehead, chin and tippet black ; upper parts dark brown ; seco?ida/-ics 

 chiefly 7L'/nle, except the three outer ones, 7vhich are mainly dusky, like 

 the primaries ; neck, breast and flanks warm chestnut ; belly white ; 

 bill straight, nearly black, except the tip which is whitish; irides red; 

 legs and toes dark greenish-brown outside, yellower on the inner 

 surface. Length 13 "5 in. ; wing 5*5 in. The male is the larger and 

 has more developed head-ornaments, but otherwise the sexes are 

 alike externally. After the autumn moult the irides are paler, the 

 crest and tuft are absent, and the under parts are chiefly white, the 

 throat and flanks being streaked with dusky-grey. The young 

 resemble the adults in winter-plumage. 



It is unfortunate that the specific name auritns, which Linnaeus 

 undoubtedly used for the Slavonian Grebe, should have been diverted 

 by Latham and others to the next species ; thereby causing great 

 confusion. 



