THE CRESTED GREBE. 



475 



ments ; and if at the moment of its emergence it perceives itself still 

 in danger, it again dives, not having been on the surface for a single 

 second of time. Like many other aquatic birds, it can sink itself in 

 the water slowly, and often does so when uneasy, rising again if relieved 

 from its anxiety, or disappearing as if jerked under the surface from 



The Crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus). 



below. I have often seen them in a little pond only a few yards across 

 thus diving and popping up again with almost ludicrous rapidity. 



This bird can fly moderately well, and can rise from the water with- 

 out difficulty, when it will circle about the spot whence it rose, and keep 

 some five or six feet above the surface, uttering the while its curious 

 rattling cry. 



The nest of this bird is made of water-weeds, and is placed among 

 the rank aquatic herbage. It is scarcely raised above the surface, and 

 is mostly wet. 



The eggs are five or six in number, and their normal color is white, 

 though they soon become stained with the decaying vegetable mat- 

 ter on which they rest, and before hatching are of a muddy-brown hue. 



The food of the Dabchick consists of insects, molluscs, little fish, 

 and the smaller crustaceans. 



The Crested Grebe is found in some of the fens of the midland 

 counties of England, and also inhabits parts of Scotland. This bird, 

 together with the other Grebes, builds its nest of a mass of roots and 

 reeds among sedges. The female, like the water hen, covers up her 

 eggs when she leaves her nest, which, unlike the nests of most of the 

 aquatic birds, floats upon the surface of the water. 



The sub-family of the Alcinse, or Auks, has several British represent- 

 atives, among which the Great Auk is the rarest. 



