531 

 RED-NECKED GEEBE. 



PODICEPS RUBRICOLLIS. 



Bill as long as the head, black, yellow at the base ; distance from the nostrils 

 to the tip eleven lines ; crest very short ; head and crest lustrous black ; 

 cheeks and throat mouse-colour; a black band along the nape; breast 

 bright rust-red ; lower parts white ; flanks spotted with dusky ; feet black, 

 greenish yellow beneath. Young birds have the head, neck, and back, dusky ; 

 throat, cheeks, breast, belly, and abdomen, silky white ; sides of the breast 

 spotted with grey. Length sixteen inches. Eggs dirty greenish white. 



THE Eed-necked Grebe is smaller than the Loon, from 

 which it differs also in wanting the elongated crest, in 

 having a more robust bill in proportion to its size, and 

 is further distinguished by the grey hue of its cheeks, on 

 account of which last character it is known in France under 

 the name of Grebe Jou-gris. It is a native of the north- 

 eastern parts of Europe, and is known in the British Isles 

 only as a winter visitor. In habits it differs little from the 

 last described species, but is less common, occurring both 

 in fresh- water lakes and along the sea-coast. 



SCLAVONIAN GREBE. 



PODICEPS CORNUTUS. 



Bill strong, shorter than the head, compressed throughout its whole length 

 black, with the tip red ; eyes with a double iris, the inner yellow, the outer 

 red ; distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill six or seven lines ; head and 

 bushy ruff glossy black ; two horn-like crests orange-red ; lore, neck, and 

 breast, bright chestnut ; upper plumage dusky ; secondaries and under parts 

 white ; bill black, rose-coloured at the base and red at the tip. Young Crest 

 and ruff wanting ; upper plumage and flanks dusky ash, under parts white ; 

 irides white, surrounded by red. Eggs dirty white. 



THE Sclavonian, or Horned Grebe, approaches so closely 

 in habits to the two preceding species that it is unneces- 

 sary to say more than that it inhabits the northern parts 

 of America and Europe, visiting us only during winter, 

 and even then but rarely. Audubon describes its nest as 

 a rude structure of weeds, situated at a distance of about 

 twelve feet from the water's edge ; but other authors state 



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