2o6 British Birds, 



Qt>- LITTLE GREBE— {Fodicc/^s /uviat./is; formerly, P- 



Diinor^. 

 Dabchick or Dobchick, Didapper, Small Ducker, 

 Black-cliin Grebe. — A very common and very inter- 

 esting little bird, and yet, in spite of its frequency 

 and familiarity, blessed with two scientific names, 

 originating (as in the case of the Dunlin) in differ 

 ences of plumage, depending on age or season. It is 

 difficult to say where it is not to be met with in 

 spring, provided only there be what the Americans 

 call a sufficient " water-privilege," neither too shallow 

 nor too rapid, for its requirements. As expert a diver 

 as any of those hitherto named, it seldom resorts to 

 the use of its wings, except just at the time when 

 birds' love-making goes on. Then the male (at least) 

 may be seen working his short wings most vigorously 

 and rapidly, uttering his rattling cry as he circles over 

 and about the mere on which he has " squatted " for 

 the season. The nest is a heap of water weeds only 

 just flush with the surface, and always steeping wet. 

 The eg^s are four, five or six in number, perfectly 

 white when laid, but soon ceasing to be clean-looking, 

 for they grow more dingy day by day, until on some 

 waters they become completely mud-coloured, on 

 others, assume a hue which I can compare to nothing 

 but old blood stains on some dirty surface. I am 

 quite convinced that in some cases at least this dis- 

 colouration is intentional on the part of the parent 

 bird, though in others it may be simply due to the 

 action of the juices of fresh or decaying vegetable sub- 

 stances. I never yet, though I have seen some dozens 

 of nests, found the eggs left uncovered by the owner 



