142 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



weeds, and long, coarse grass growing on or near 

 the banks of pools, sluggish rivers, lakes, lochs, 

 reservoirs, and canals. The nest is a kind of raft 

 moored amongst stems or built upon submerged 

 branches, sometimes it rests upon the bottom of a 

 shallow pond, in all suitable localities throughout the 

 British Isles. 



Materials. A liberal collection of dead, half- 

 rotten, aquatic weeds, thoroughly saturated with 

 water ; very shallow at the top. 



Egg s -< Four to six ; as many as seven have 

 upon a few occasions been found. White,, and 

 rough-surfaced when first laid, but gradually be- 

 coming stained and discoloured by contact with 

 the bird and the decaying weeds upon which they 

 are deposited and are often covered by. Size about 

 1.45 by i.o in. 



Time. March, April, May, June, July, and 

 August. 



Remarks. Resident, but subject to local move- 

 ment. Note: alarm, whit, whit. Local and other 

 names : Dabchick, Black-chin Grebe, Small Ducker, 

 Didapper, Dobchick, Loon, Dipper (the proper 

 name of an entirely different species). Not a close 

 sitter, but covers over its eggs when voluntarily 

 leaving the nest. 



GREENFINCH. 



(Ligurinus chloris.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family FRINGILLHLE (FINCHES). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about six 

 inches. Bill, short, thick, and flesh-coloured. Irides 

 hazel. Head, neck, back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts, yellowish-green, mixed with ashy-grey on the 

 sides of the head and neck, and with greyish-brown 



