THE SCLAVONIAN GREBE. r 95 



(Mcllwraith). It resorts to freshwater lakes and other inland waters in the 

 breeding season. The nest is usually described as a floating structure of vege- 

 table material fastened to the reeds or rushes in shallow water, and of the same 

 character as those of the other Grebes which breed in Europe ; but it is stated 

 to have been found on a tussock of grass in the water, and once on a stone. 



The Rev. H. H. Slater and Mr. T. Carter record taking a great many eggs 

 in Northern Iceland, the reason being that there had been a storm of wind 

 recently, and the waves had agitated the floating nests (made of a kind of 

 Myriophyllum, and moored to the reeds) to such an extent as to upset many of 

 the eggs into the water. ("Zoologist," 1886, p. 156.) 



The eggs are similar in shape and colour to those of the other species of 

 Grebes here described, and measure about 1*75 inches long by i'2o broad. The 

 number of eggs in the clutch is stated by various authors as from two to six, 

 and even seven. 



The Dusky Grebe of Pennant, Montagu, and other old authors, is this 

 species in winter dress, but there seems to be no local name for it. The 

 modern Norsk name is Stortkravat Toplom. | 



The adult male in summer has iris crimson, with a white ring round the 

 pupil usually present, the bill black, tip pale yellow, and the base of the under 

 mandible pinkish. Line of bare skin from the bill to the eye red. Crown of 

 the head and nape nearly black with a greenish gloss. Forehead, chin, throat, 

 and sides of the face and head, brownish-black, with some green gloss on the 

 last. The feathers of the hinder part of the face, sides of the head, and the 

 throat, elongated, and forming a ruff which almost encircles the head. The 

 feathers of the dark top of the head raised on each side, increasing the "horned" 

 appearance. From the base of the upper mandible on each side, passing over 

 the eye to the hinder part of the head, a line of feathers, elongated above and 

 behind the eye, and considerably so on the hinder part of the head, where 

 they form a long tuft on each side of the nape, reddish chestnut in front of 

 the eye, yellowish above and behind it, and chestnut red on the terminal part. 

 Hind neck, back and upper parts generally very dark brown, with pale edges 

 to the feathers of the mantle. Primaries and wing coverts paler brown; 

 primaries with dark shafts, and whitish at the base. The first, outer, 

 secondary is dark, the second, and sometimes the third, partly dark, the amount 

 of dark colour varying greatly in different specimens, the rest white. Front 

 and sides of the neck below the throat, and upper breast, reddish chestnut. 

 Lower breast and belly white, mixed with a little chestnut on former, and in 

 some cases dashed on the latter with pale yellowish chestnut. Lowest part of 



