396 NATATORES. PODICEPS. GREBE. 



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these, though short, are not comparatively smaller than in 

 some other species that are known to fly occasionally. Up- 

 on the continental parts of Europe it is abundant, particular- 

 ly in Holland and certain districts of Germany. It is also 

 known in America, and is mentioned in the Fauna America? 

 Borealis, as having been killed by Dr RICHARDSON upon the 

 Saskatshewan. It breeds in the fresh water, amidst reeds 

 Nost, &.c. an d other rank herbage, and the nest, which is very large 

 and floats on the surface, is composed of a mass of decayed 

 vegetable roots, flags, stems of water-lily, &c. The eggs, 

 three or four in number, are of a greenish-white, in size 

 rather bigger than those of a Teal. The young, when first 

 excluded, are clothed in a parti- coloured down of reddish- 

 brown and greyish-white, and are assiduously attended by 

 the parent, who procures food for them, and, according to 

 PENNANT, has often been observed to feed them with small 

 eels. 



PLATE 73. Fig. 1. Represents the adult bird in perfect plu- 

 mage. 



General Bill longer than the head, measuring two inches in length 

 Uon^ nP " from the forehead to the tip ; the base dull brick-red, 



Adult bird tne **P g re ji sn - wn i te - Lores red. Irides crimson-red. 



Eyestreak, cheeks, and throat, white. Crown of the 

 head, long occipital tufts, and bottom part of the neck- 

 frieze, lustrous greyish-black. The upper part of the 

 neck-frieze pale reddish-brown. Fore part of the neck 

 and under parts white, with a silky or silvery lustre. 

 Hind part of the neck, back, scapulars, middle wing- 

 coverts and flanks, deep clove-brown, with a blackish- 

 green lustre. Wing-coverts next to the shoulders, and 

 the secondary quills, white. Greater quills hair-brown. 

 Legs on the outside grey, or deep lead-colour ; on the 

 inside yellowish-white. Hind ridge of the tarsus hav- 

 ing a double row of serratures, formed by the projec- 

 tion of the scales that run down each side. 

 1 



