THE LITTLE GREBE 
PODICEPS MINOR 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: ‘‘ Dobchick ” 
(Essex). 
Stratus IN British AviraunA: A common and widely 
distributed resident. 
RapiAL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: The Little Grebe breeds commonly, and in a 
perfectly wild state, about a mile and a half from the 
Cathedral, in St. James’s Park. Four or five pairs fre- 
quent this locality. I believe the bird also nests in 
Battersea Park, at Kew, and possibly in Regent’s Park. 
I have records of this Grebe from the Serpentine, and 
from one or two reservoirs at no great distance from the 
central districts. In the more rural and secluded suburbs 
the Little Grebe becomes more widely dispersed, and I 
have so many records of its presence in all directions 
that an enumeration of them is scarcely necessary. On the 
other hand, the bird appears to be somewhat capricious 
in selecting its haunts, and I have known it to frequent 
certain spots right through the winter, yet desert them in 
spring, although apparently suitable in every way for 
nesting purposes. ‘he smallest pools and drains will 
often afford this Grebe a refuge, and in winter it is given 
to much wandering. It occurs in some numbers on the 
ponds about Northolt and Uxbridge, the latter, however, 
being just without our limits, but within a few minutes’ 
ride or walk of them. 
‘The habits and movements of the Little Grebe may be 
readily observed within a few minutes’ walk of the busy 
Strand, in St. James’s Park. ‘The bird is nothing nearly 
so shy and wary as the preceding species, and will fearlessly 
swim about the ornamental water there quite close to the 
bank. It is just as expert a diver as its larger ally, and its 
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