202 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



Family PODICIPEDIDAL. 



LITTLE GREBE. 



Podicipes fluviatilis, (TuNSTALL). 



THE Little Grebe, or Dabchick, is a resident species, breeding commonly 

 throughout the counties of Great Britain, although less abundantly in 

 Scotland, where it breeds at a considerable elevation in the west. It breeds also 

 in the Orkneys (Dunn), and is found in summer, as well as in winter, in the 

 Outer and Inner Hebrides, but is said to be only a winter resident in Skye, 

 although supposed to have bred there. It only occurs in the Shetlands as a 

 straggler in winter according to Seebohm, from Norway. In Ireland it breeds 

 in every county. 



Although a resident species, the Little Grebe wanders from its usual haunts 

 in winter, especially when frozen out in severe seasons. At such times it appears 

 that a certain number make their way to the sea coast, or the marshes adjacent 

 thereto, and individuals at that season are known to frequent brackish water, and 

 have been observed on the sea. That the Little Grebe is capable of performing 

 migrations, presumably by flight, is evident from its regular appearance in spring 

 on pools which it is not known to frequent in winter. The late E. T. Booth 

 was of opinion that in autumn a partial migration towards the coast undoubtedly 

 took place. Further evidence of the migratory habits of the Dabchick may be 

 found in the "Migration Reports" for the years 1883 and 1886. It occurs not 

 uncommonly at Heligoland. 



The Little Grebe is an Old World species. In Europe it ranges further north 

 in the west than in the east. It is found in the southern and middle parts of 

 Sweden, and breeds sparingly in Southern Norway. It is very rare in Finland 

 and the northern part of Russia, but breeds in Denmark, Northern Germany, 

 and Holland, and southward throughout the rest of Europe. It breeds commonly 

 in Palestine. It is migratory to some extent in the more northern parts of its 

 range. A resident in North Africa in suitable localities from Egypt to Morocco ; 

 it is abundant on the Gold Coast and other parts of the west coast of Africa. It 

 is resident in South Africa and Madagascar; across Asia (south of Mongolia and 

 Siberia) to China and Japan, and down to Ceylon ; the Malay Archipelago and parts 

 of Australia. In some of the warmer parts of its range it breeds in the mountains 

 at a considerable elevation. The birds inhabiting India, China, the Moluccas, South 

 Africa, and Madagascar, have been separated from the typical form by Dr. Sharpe. 



