BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 89 



Haunts. Moors and marshy places. 



Plumage. Head creamy-white, streaked with umber- 

 brown. Back brown. Primaries black, otherwise wings 

 and tail grey ; under parts buff, streaked with brown. 

 Bill horn-colour. Cere and legs yellow. Length 21 in. 

 Female larger, and tail and under parts brown. Young 

 dark chocolate-brown ; the male having crown of head 

 buffish white, and the females yellowish nape streaked 

 with brown. Nestling covered with white down. 



Language. Rather like the Kittiwake's cry, " keew, 

 keew." 



Habits. It flies low over the ground, swooping down 

 on its prey. It is also said to catch surface-swimming 

 fish. Rarely perches on a tree. 



Food. Small mammals and birds. Fond of eggs, and 

 consequently always shot when possible. It preys to a 

 large extent on young water-fowl of all kinds. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. On the ground, in a swamp amongst reeds. 



Materials. Dry grass, reeds, and rushes, lined with 

 finer grass. A large and loose structure. 



Eggs. Three to five. Very pale bluish-white and 

 rather round in shape. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podicipes crisfatus). 



Uncommon and local. It breeds on inland waters 

 chiefly in the midland and eastern counties ; also in 

 Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 



Plumage. Crown, crest, and ruff dark brown and chest- 

 nut. Stripe over eye and cheeks white. Upper parts 

 dark brown. Secondaries white, and conspicuous in 

 flight ; under parts silky, silvery white, practically 

 tailless. Bill pinkish. Legs and lobate toes blackish 

 green. Length 21 in. Female similar, but slightly 

 smaller, and has less developed ruff and crest ; both 

 these ornaments are lost in winter. Young have little 



M 



