100 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



and toes, dark greenish. The wings are short, tail 

 almost nil, and legs situated far behind. 



The female is very similar to the male. 



Situation and Locality. Amongst reeds, rushes, 

 weeds, and long, coarse grass growing on or near 

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

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

 built up from the bottom 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. 



Eggs. Four to six ; as many as seven have 

 upon a few occasions been found. White, and 

 rough-surfaced when first laid, but gradually 

 becoming 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. Eesident, but subject to local move- 

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

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

 Didapper, Dobchick, Loon, Dipper. Not a close 

 sitter, but covers over its eggs when leaving the 

 nest voluntarily. 



GREENFINCH. 



' Description of Parent Birds. Length about six 

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

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

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

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



