GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 405 



built in an exposed situation, before the young reeds have 

 sprouted sufficiently to conceal it. When the nest is 

 plundered the bird immediately makes another in the 

 vicinity and lays again. The birds are more prone to take 

 flight in spring than at other seasons of the year, but as 

 soon as the eggs are deposited in the nest, both male and 

 female seem to trust entirely to their powers of diving for 

 preservation, and very seldom show themselves. They 

 generally dive away from their nest on being disturbed, 

 and thus frequently escape observation ; a slight vibration 

 among the reeds being the only sign of their departure. 

 The nest is composed of half-rotten decaying water-plants, 

 nearly level with the surface of the water, and is generally 

 very wet. The eggs are usually four in number, white, 

 and two inches two lines long, by one inch and six lines 

 in breadth. The parent birds are very careful of their 

 young, taking them down with them for security under 

 their wings when they dive. They feed them with young 

 eels, and other small fish, some small Crustacea, and a 

 portion of vegetable food. Tadpoles and small frogs are 

 favourite diet with them. 



A fine adult specimen belonging to the Ornithological 

 Society lived on the canal in St. James's Park more than 

 twelve months. This bird carried a good crest, unaltered 

 throughout the whole of the winter; and in May, the 

 crest was of large size and fine in colour. Unfortunately 

 the Society possessed but a single example of the species, 

 apparently a fine and old male. This bird did not asso- 

 ciate with any of the other numerous water-fowl on the 

 canal, he swam low in the water, and generally kept out 

 in the middle of the widest part, frequently diving for 

 food, occasionally preening his plumage, and sometimes 

 slept in mid-day, the head turned half round, with the 

 beak inserted and hid among the feathers on the back. 



