94 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Plumage. — Head, neck and rudimentary crest green, 

 with white spot under the eye. Back black. Neck, 

 scapulars, speculum, and under parts white. Thighs 

 dark brown. Bill bluish black. Irides golden yellow. 

 Legs and feet yellow ; webs blackish. Length 19 in. 

 Female : dark brown above, minus white face-spot ; 

 under parts white. Young, similar. 



Language. — Very silent, but it sometimes utters a 

 low croak. 



Habits. — Flight rapid and violent, with the result 

 that the wings produce a whistling kind of sound. 

 Food obtained by diving. 



Food. — Water insects, small fish, etc. 



Nidification. — Breeds in Northern Europe. 



RUDDY SHELD-DUCK {Tadorna casarca). 



A rare visitor, but it has occurred in large numbers 

 from time to time. In a semi-domesticated state it is 

 often seen on ornamental waters, and is at once attractive 

 on account of its prevailing orange-brown plumage, and 

 its buff head with narrow black collar. 



RED-NECKED GREBE (Podidpes griseigena). 



A rare winter visitor to our coasts, sometimes appear- 

 ing in considerable numbers. It has a small, almost 

 black crest, lost in winter ; the cheeks and throat are 

 greyish white, and the upper parts dark brown, with 

 conspicuous white patch on the secondaries. Front of 

 neck chestnut-red ; under parts silky white. Length 

 18 in. In general habits, language, and food it resembles 



