254 AVES NATATORES. [PODICEPS 



DIMKNS. Entire length twelve inches: length of the bill (from the 

 forehead) eleven lines, (from the gape) one inch one line and a half; of 

 the tarsus one inch six lines and a half; from the carpus to the end of the 

 wing five inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Adult.) Cheeks, forehead, crown, a short occipital crest, 

 and upper part of the neck, deep black : sides of the head ornamented 

 with two tufts of long slender feathers, of a pale yellow passing into deep 

 orange; these tufts arise from behind the upper part of the eye, and 

 passing backwards cover the orifice of the ears : throat, lower part of the 

 neck, sides of the breast, and all the upper parts, dull black : secondary 

 quills white: flanks and thighs deep chestnut-red, mixed with dusky; 

 the rest of the under parts pure white : bill black, reddish at the base : 

 irides vermilion : legs externally dusky ash, internally greenish ash. 

 (Young of the year.) Closely resembling the young of the last species, 

 but may always be distinguished by the peculiar shape of the bill, which 

 is depressed at the base, and slightly recurved at the tip : the iris is also 

 of one colour, and the white on the cheeks more extended, reaching down 

 the sides of the neck. (Egg.) Dirty yellowish white : long. diam. one 

 inch nine lines; trans, diam. one inch three lines. 



A rare species in this country, particularly in the adult state. Met 

 with principally in the winter months, but, according to Montagu, breeds 

 in the fens of Lincolnshire. Chiefly frequents lakes and inland waters, 

 occasionally the estuaries of rivers. Nest placed amongst reeds and other 

 aquatic herbage. Eggs three or four in number. 



268. P, minor, Lath. (Little Grebe.) Bill very 

 short, compressed ; distance from the nostrils to the tip 

 six lines : no ruff or occipital crest : tarsi furnished 

 posteriorly with a double row of serratures. 



P. minor, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 727. Colymbus Hebridicus, 

 Sow. Brit. Misc. pi. 70. Little and Black-chin Grebes, Mont. Orn. 

 Diet, fy Supp. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 163. Little Grebe, 

 Selb. Illust. vol. n. p. 401. pi. 75. 



DIMENS. Entire length nine inches ten lines : length of the bill one 

 inch: of the tarsus one inch three lines; from the carpus to the end of 

 the wing four inches three lines. 



DESCRIPT. (Adult in summer.) Throat, crown of the head, and nape, 

 deep black ; cheeks, sides and fore part of the neck, bright chestnut : 

 upper parts of the body dark brown, tinged with olivaceous green ; rump 

 inclining to reddish brown: primary quills brownish ash; secondaries 

 white at the base and on their inner webs : under parts dusky ash, 

 darkest on the breast, vent, and flanks ; thighs tinged with reddish : 

 bill black; the extreme tip, and base of the lower mandible, together 

 with the lore, yellowish white: irides reddish brown: legs externally 

 dusky olive, internally livid flesh-colour. (Young of the year.) Crown 

 of the head, nape, and all the upper parts of the body, a mixture of 

 brown and ash-colour, with a slight tinge of rufous : throat pure white : 

 sides of the neck reddish ash ; fore part of the neck, upper part of the 

 breast, and flanks, the same but paler ; belly and abdomen white : bill 

 shorter than in the adult ; the lower mandible, and edges of the upper 

 mandible, yellowish white ; rest of the bill deep brown : irides brown. 

 (Egg.) Smooth; white: long. diam. one inch seven lines; trans, diam. 

 one inch one line. 



