350 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



During the breeding season it "drums" in the same 

 manner as the Common Snipe, the noise having been com- 

 pared to the cantering of a horse on a hard road. 



It may always be distinguished from the Common Snipe 

 by its smaller size and shorter bill. Length 7*5 in. 



RED-BREASTED SNIPE 



Ereunetes griseus {Gmelin) 



Some half-dozen examples of this American species have 

 been met with in England, all of them during the autumn 

 months. 



At this time of year, except in size and length of bill, it 

 resembles a Dunlin ; but in spring the under parts are chest- 

 nut, spotted on the breast and barred on the flanks with 

 dark brown. The feathers of the back are black, edged and 

 barred with rufous. Rump and upper tail-coverts white barred 

 with black. The shaft of the outermost primary is pure white. 

 Length about 10 in. ; wing 5*5 in. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE 



Podiceps cristatus {Linnceus) 



We have often had to lament the extermination or decrease 

 of many species, and it is a real pleasure to have to record that 

 a fine species like the present has increased abundantly of late 

 years. 



This has been done chiefly by very strict protection, and 

 although still a locally distributed resident, there are now 

 many places where it is common, and in Scotland it breeds on 

 several lochs as far north as Aberdeenshire. It nests also in 

 parts of Ireland. It is practically a resident and may be found 

 with us at all times of the year, but the majority leave their 



