GREBES. 141 



them, the change is so great. These two species I 

 have now and then obtained in full summer dress, 

 with their quaint grenadier-looking heads com- 

 pletely and beautifully furnished. 



Like the three large Divers, the Grebes, I 

 believe, always build their nests on the verge of 

 marshes and lakes, or amongst aquatic herbage 

 at a distance from the shore, and never in such a 

 position that they cannot in case of danger at once 

 shuffle or dive straight into the water. What nests 

 I have found (namely, those of the Great Crested, 

 and the Dabchick) have invariably been more in 

 the water than on the land in fact, almost afloat. 

 It is the nature of these birds to seek for breeding 

 haunts quiet, lonely waters, as free from wind and 

 wave as possible. 



Mr. R. Evatt, before alluded to as a close 

 observer of the wild birds of his district at Mount 

 Louise, says : " The Great Crested Grebe nests 

 on my lake. It breeds scantily on most of the 

 large lakes of this county (Monaghan) as well as 

 on those of Ulster, but, being very shy, they are 

 not known to be as plentiful in the summer as they 

 really are. On being disturbed they will swim 

 with nothing but the head and neck above water, 

 and in such a manner that one would scarce detect 

 it to be a bird. They also hide in the reeds the 

 moment a pursuit is attempted." 



THE RED-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps rubricollis) is 

 by far the rarest of all. THE SCLAVONIAN GREBE 

 (Podiceps cornutus] is also rare in Ireland, and the 

 EARED GREBE still more so. 



THE LITTLE GREBE, or Dabchick (P. minor], fre- 



