170 BRITISH SEABIRDS: 
Grebe is exceptionally remarkable for its nuptial 
ornaments, but which, as usual, are confined to the 
head and upper neck. Two chestnut or bay- 
coloured crests start backwards over the eyes, 
whilst the tippet is black. This ornament, when 
extended to its utmost, looks very beautiful, and 
gives the head an appearance of being surrounded 
by a glittering aureole. This Grebe is a late 
breeder, the eggs not being laid before June. It 
retires to fresh-water pools for the purpose of 
nesting, and resembles the other species closely in 
its habits at this season, making a slovenly floating 
nest, and laying four or five dull white eggs. 
LITTLE GREBE. 
This species is the smallest of the European 
Grebes, and certainly by far the best known 
member of the family found in the British Islands. 
It is rather remarkable that the Little Grebe was 
unknown as a distinct species to Linnzus. It was 
known to Brisson as Colymbus minor, and to most 
modern ornithologists as Podzcepes minor, although 
some few writers speak of this bird as P. fluvzatzles. 
Outside the British Islands it has a very wide 
distribution in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but the 
Little Grebe of America is a distinct species. The 
Little Grebe is found more or less frequently on 
the coast during winter, driven thereto when frosts 
seal up its inland haunts. On the coast this bird is 
more partial to the brackish back-waters, dykes, 
