The Great Crested Grebe 

 (Podiceps Cristatus). 



THIS bird sometimes called by authors the dab- 

 chick is a large and fine species, the largest of 

 the genus, and in the plumage of incubation has 

 an imposing appearance from the rich coloring and ample 

 adornments of the head and neck. Unlike the divers, the 

 larger grebes have their range to the southward, and con- 

 tinue resident in many of the English counties for the 

 whole year, and more particularly in the fenny districts ; 

 to the North of England they become more unfrequent in 

 summer; in fact, it is scarcely ever seen on the borders 

 during summer. 



It is only met with here as a winter visitant. In Holland 

 it may often be seen on the inland waters, and, in fact, it 

 can be seen almost anywhere between Norway and the 

 Mexican coast, so universal is its range. It has been 

 descried passing through the air in flocks of seven to fifty 

 in number. 



The nest, placed among reeds or aquatic herbage, is 

 formed of decayed plants, and is sometimes of considerable 

 bulk. The old birds at this time are very wary, the female 

 sliding almost imperceptibly from the nest, dives, and 

 rises at a distance, leaving her track without a possibility 

 of being discovered. 



The usual characteristics of the species are : forehead and 

 crown greyish brown, and on each side of the latter the 

 feathers become elongated, and form two lengthened tufts, 

 the colours gradually shading into deep greyish black; 

 from the base of these tufts, around the auriculars and 



