302 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



LITTLE GEEBE. 



Fodiceps Jluviatilis. 



The jii'ovincial name of the Little Grebe is Dabchickj though 

 it is occasionally called the Mole-Diver, and it is the most 

 abundant of its genus. Resident throughout the year, it is 

 to be found on most of the large pieces of water, preferring 

 those with plenty of reeds, as well as in the ditches of the 

 marsh-lands; and, when the fresh water is frozen, often 

 betaking itself to the brackish pools on the coast, or, not 

 seldom, to the sea. If approached cautiously, it may be 

 frequently seen swimming al)out, apparently picking up some 

 kind of food from the surface and snapping at insects on the 

 wing ; but on the slightest disturbance it dives, and probably 

 disappears among the reeds. It builds a semi-floating nest, 

 Avhich looks like a lump of decayed weeds, generally placed 

 at the edge of the water. If it has eggs, it always covers them 

 on leaving the nest, I learn from one of my brothers, who has 

 excellent opportunities of observing its habits, that he has seen 

 this done by throwing the mud of the nest backwards with its 

 feet as it dives off from it. The editor of Yarrell (vol. iv. 

 p. 1 10) states that Mr. Thuriiall, writing to Mr. Bond, observes 

 that he had seen the bird do it Avith her beak. Perhaps in this 

 case she had more time at her disposal than she would have 

 had on any sudden alarm. The young do not always dive on 

 being disturbed, for I saw a friend whip in a little one, which 

 must have been two or three days old, with his fly-line, on 

 Hawkins' Pond, in St. Leonards Forest. I have it now, and a 

 beautiful little creature it is, being in colour like a very young 

 tabby kitten. It uttered a continual piping like a young 

 chicken, but weaker. After receiving it in a landing-net, I 

 carried it in a bag for about two hours, and every now and 



