138 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



GREBE, GREAT CRESTED. 



(Podicipes cristatus.) 

 Order PYGOPODES ; Family PODICIPEDID^E (GREBES). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 twenty - two inches. Bill rather long, straight, 

 pointed, black at the tip, and reddish towards the 

 base. The top of the head and the divided crest 

 with which it is adorned are dusky ; cheeks whitish. 

 Round the upper part of the neck is a tippet or 

 ruff, which is formed of elongated feathers that 

 stand out all round. These feathers are rusty red, 

 with a darker tinge at the tip of each. Hind part 

 of the neck, back, wings, and short, tufty tail, dark 

 brown, except the secondaries of the wings, which 

 are white. Front of neck, breast, and belly silvery 

 white. Sides and flanks, pale chestnut ; out- 

 side of legs and toes, dusky green ; inside, pale 

 yellowish-green. Each toe is surrounded by a 

 margin of web. 



The female is not so large or distinct in colora- 

 tion. Her crest is also smaller. 



Situation and Locality. Amongst reeds grow- 

 ing in the water. Sometimes its foundation rests 

 upon the bottom ; at others it is moored to the 

 surrounding vegetation. On large sheets of fresh 

 water. The bird breeds on the Norfolk and Suffolk 

 Broads, in Wales, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, 

 Lancashire, Surrey, and several other counties. This 

 species has extended its range considerably during 

 recent years, and is now found breeding in several 

 parts of Scotland and Ireland. 



Materials. Flags, sedge leaves, reeds, and all 

 kinds of dead water-plants heaped together. The 



