458 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



dimensions always exceed the maximum of the latter species^ so that the 

 eggs of the two birds cannot easily he confused. 



The adult male Great Crested Grebe in nuptial plumage has the general 

 colour of the upper parts greyish brown^ each feather with a paler margin ; 

 the anterior margin of the wing, the secondaries, and the whole of the 

 underparts, including the axillaries and under wing-covcrts, are white, with 

 the exception of the flanks, which are brown mottled with chestnut ; the 

 back of the neck, the forehead, crown, and two conspicuous nuptial crests 

 are uniform greyish brown ; the lores, space round the eye, chin, and 

 throat are pure white, gradually shading into bright chestnut on the 

 nuptial tippet, the outer margin of which is nearly black. Bill red, bare 

 space between the eye and the base of the bill blackish ; legs and feet olive- 

 green; irides crimson. 



The adult female differs very slightly from the male, but is somewhat 

 smaller ; the nuptial crest and tippet are not quite so much developed, and 

 the latter is not quite so brilliant in colour. 



After the autumn moult the general colour of the upper parts is slightly 

 greyer, especially the margins of the feathers ; the flanks are much less 

 mottled with chestnut; the nuptial crest is almost obsolete, and the 

 nuptial tippet is only slightly indicated in the male and still less so in the 

 female. 



Young in first plumage very closely resemble the adult in winter; 

 but the nuptial plume and tippet are entirely absent, and dark stripes 

 on the sides of the head and neck somewhat resemble those of the young 

 in down. These stripes on the head and neck arc moulted in the first 

 autumn, leaving the plumage very similar to that of the adult in winter, 

 except that the sides of the head and the neck are suffused with brown. 

 After the first spring moult a plumage is assumed resembling that of 

 the adult, but the nuptial adornments are much smaller and duller in 

 colour. Young in down are very comical little creatures, having the 

 body brown and the head, neck, and underparts white, with longitudinal 

 black stripes on the upper parts and on the breast, tAvo transverse black 

 stripes across the bill, and a grey patch on the side of the head. 



