GREAT CRESTED GRE 



Podtcipes cnstatiis 



HE Great Crested Grebe is a somewhat local resident in the 

 British Islands. In Scotland there are only three or four 

 known breeding-places, but in England and Wales it is 

 much more common. In Ireland it breeds on several 

 of the larger loughs. 



The Great Crested Grebe is a gregarious bird ; and 

 although it is not found in our Islands in sufficient 

 numbers to nest in colonies, it does so in many places on the Continent. 

 The favourite haunts of this species are among the dense reed-beds, which 

 fringe the shore of many of our lakes. In the fen districts of Norfolk 

 among the Broads there are hundreds of acres of reeds; unfortunately the 

 poor birds have been greatly molested in many parts, and there are but few 

 pairs now breeding where formerly they abounded. 



The diving powers of this bird are marvellous, and its food is entirely 

 procured in the water. On land the bird is excessively awkward, and can 

 only progress with difficulty in a strange shuffling manner. Its flight 

 resembles that of a Duck, and it can progress with great speed, its long neck 

 stretched out and its short wings beating with great rapidity and a curious 

 whistling noise. Its food consists of small fish, young frogs, water-beetles, 

 and little shell-fish, quantities of the bird's own feathers being generally 

 found mixed with the food in its stomach, a habit which is common to 

 all the Grebes. 



The alarm-note of this species is a loud ' kek-kek-kekj but in spring 

 the birds have a loud grating note resembling the syllable ' fowaw' The Great 

 Crested Grebe commences nesting operations in the latter half of April, 

 though eggs are rarely laid before the last few days of the month. In 

 Scotland, as the reeds are somewhat later in attaining their full height, the 

 VOL. ii. 2 i 117 



