302 THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK 
‘ 
of the north-eastern parts of Europe, and is fairly common along ~ 
the eastern coast of Great Britain from autumn to spring. In- 
habits it differs little from the last described species, but is less 
common, occurring both in fresh-water lakes and along the sea-— 
coast. 
SLAVONIAN GREBE 
PODICIPES AURITUS 
Bill strong, shorter than the head, compressed throughout its whole length, 
black, with the tip red ; eyes with a double iris, the inner yellow, the outer 
red ; distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill six or seven lines; 
head and bushy ruff glossy black; two horn-like crests orange-red; — 
lore, neck, and breast, bright chestnut ; upper plumage dusky ; second- © 
aries and under parts white; bill black, rose-coloured at the base and ~ 
red at the tip. Young—crest and ruff wanting; upper plumage and 
flanks dusky ash, under parts white; irides white, surrounded by red. 
Eggs dirty white. 
THE Slavonian, or Horned Grebe, approaches so closely in habits 
to the two preceding species that it is unnecessary to say more than 
that it inhabits the northern parts of America and Europe, visiting 
us from autumn to spring. Audubon describes its nest as a rude 
structure of weeds, situated at a distance of about twelve feet 
from the water’s edge; but other authors state that though it 
constructs its nest of these materials, it disposes it among weeds in 
such a way that it rises and falls with every alteration in the level 
of the water. It lays from five to seven eggs, and the male is 
supposed to assist in the office of incubation. 
THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK 
PODICIPES FLUVIATILIS 
Bill very short, shining, compressed ; no crest or ruff ; distance from nostrils 
to tip of the bill five lines ; tarsus with a double row of serratures behind ; 
head black; cheeks bright chestnut; breast and flanks dusky, mottled 
with white ; upper parts dark brown, tinged with green; primaries ash- 
brown ; secondaries white at the base and on the inner web, under parts 
dusky ash, tinged on the thighs with reddish; bill black, whitish at the 
tip and base of the lower mandible ; irides reddish brown ; feet externally 
greenish brown, beneath flesh-colour. Young birds are ash-brown 
above, slightly tinged with red; breast and flanks reddish white ; belly 
pure white; bill brown and yellowish ash. Length nearly ten inches. 
Eggs dirty white. | 
THE Lesser Grebe, or, as it is more commonly called, the Dabchick, 
is the only species with which it is possible to become familiarly 
acquainted in Britain. It frequents rivers, ponds, and lakes, in 
all parts of the country, rarely flying, and still more rarely coming 
to land. 
Rambling by the side of asluggish river, the sides of which are lined 
