LITTLE GKEBE. 261 



I am convinced the weight of the parent bird must have 

 brought the eggs to the level of the water, and probably- 

 even submerged them. If suddenly disturbed they will 

 leave the eggs uncovered, but the old bird will watch an 

 opportunity of returning to cover them as soon as the 

 coast is clear. These very uncomfortable-looking nests 

 are probably not so devoid of warmth as their appearance 

 would seem to indicate (c/. p. 240, great crested grebe), 

 and it is not unlikely that a low degree of temperature 

 may be sufficient to bring the embryo to maturity.^ 



Scoulton Mere was formerly a regular breeding-place 

 of the little grebe, as well as of wild fowl of various 

 descriptions. In the year 1869 I found the little grebes 

 still nesting there, but on my next visit in 1873 they had 

 quite disappeared, and I believe that only an occasional 

 pair have been found there at intervals since. The reason 

 is not far to seek. In the year 1864 a number of half- 

 pound pike were placed in the water ; ten years later 

 they were found to have so increased in size (and, doubt- 

 less, in number also), that many were obtained weighing 

 18 lbs. each. It is obvious what had been the fate of the 

 little grebes ! The presence of the pike may also account 

 for the readiness with which the grebes took wing- 

 in 1869, for I see from my notes made at the time 

 that " they rose freely and skimmed over the water, 

 their feet dip, dipping like a coot," a mode of pro- 

 ceeding, as before stated, very unusual with this species 

 at any time, but especially so when nesting. It may 

 be, experience had taught them that the hungry pike 



* Colonel Legge, in the " Zoologist " for 1867, p. 603, gives a 

 remarkable instance of the vitality of the " chick " of this species. 

 He says, after describing the nest of a little grebe, "a proof 

 occurred here of the small amount of warmth required to hatch and 

 keep alive the young ' chick.' 1 took away two eggs, one of which 

 was addled. On arriving at my rooms I laid the eggs in the bath, 

 and was surprised to hear periodical chirpings coming from one of 

 the eggs. Not having time to open the egg then, I put it away, 

 and on taking it up the following evening, thirty hours after I had 

 taken it from the nest, I was still more surprised to hear the 

 chirpings again. Assisted by a friend, I liberated the hardy little 

 monster, and wrapped him up in flannel. He departed this life, 

 however, on the following day. The egg was not kept in a warm 

 room." 



