RED-NECKED GREBE. Tid 
the said materials. It is placed upon the water, and attached 
to the growing vegetation. 
The eggs of the Red-necked Grebe are either white, or 
white with a slight tinge of blue or green, clouded, Selby 
says, with deep brown. They are four or five in number. 
Several pairs of these birds breed in the same locality. 
The male and female both assist in the construction of the 
nest,'.and shew much affection for their charge. The young 
take to the water as soon as they are hatched. 
Male; weight, from about eighteen or nineteen ounces, to 
twenty-three; length, one foot four and a half, or from that to 
one foot five inches and a half or one foot six inches. Bill, 
dusky black, or dark horn-colour, except about the base, which 
is reddish yellow, and the under side of the lower mandible 
is of the latter colour; in winter the red becomes pale yellow. 
Iris, fine orange red. The crest, which is short, the feathers 
being a little lengthened on each side of the upper part of 
the head, and capable of being extended or not at pleasure, 
the forehead and crown, rich blackish brown, in winter tinged 
with grey; the sides of the lower part of the head greyish 
white. Neck on the back, and nape, dark greyish black; the 
sides and front of the neck, rusty yellowish red; chin and 
throat, white, or greyish white. Breast on the upper part, 
and below, silvery greyish white, turning to brownish grey, 
with some dusky streaks on the sides. Back, dark greyish 
or blackish brown; the tips of the feathers being greyish 
brown, the remainder blackish brown. 
The wings are very short; greater and lesser wing coverts, 
dusky blackish brown; primaries, dark, nearly black towards the 
tips, the remainder dark tawny brown; secondaries, mostly white, 
and some with more or less black on the outer webs, one or 
two of the first, that is, towards the outside of the wing, have 
the tips only white, gradually increasing on each; tertiaries, 
dusky blackish brown. Under tail coverts, greyish brown. The 
legs are broad and flat, edgeways towards the front. They 
are greenish black on the outer part, and on the inner dull 
yellowish green; toes, the same; lobes, dusky on the outside. 
Female; bill at the base, dull yellow. Crown, neck on the 
back, and nape, dusky; throat, white. Breast above, pale 
reddish rust-colour, mixed with some dusky; below, dusky: 
white. Back, dusky. 
The young have the head and neck dusky brown, the chin 
and throat greyish white; the back paler than in the adult. 
