92 BRITISH BIRDS 



sembles the storm-petrel, but is at once recognised by its 

 larger size (8 in.), the markedly forked tail, and the grey on 

 the wing-coverts and secondaries. 



Nest. On rocky sea-washed islands, under stones or boulders, 

 in crevices of rocks or ruins, in burrows made by the bird or 

 in those of rabbits. Scrape unlined or lined with a few 

 grasses, &c. 



Egg. One. Chalky-white, more or less zoned with reddish- 

 brown spots round the bigger end. Av. size, I'l x '84 in. 

 Laying begins end May- June, or later. One brood. 



XII. ORDER : 



COLYMBIFORMES. 

 PODICEPEDES 



(1) SUBORDER : 



Fig. 108. 



Family : Podicepididce Grebes 



183. Great crested-grebe [Oolymbus cristatus Linnaeus; Podi- 



cipes cristatus (Linnaeus)]. Breeds on fresh water lakes in most 

 parts of the British Isles, except north 

 of the Grampians. Local movement to 

 the coasts in winter. 



Bird. Length 21 in. The Family has 

 tail almost absent, toes lobed (Fig. 109). 

 Species recognised by the dark brown of 

 the crest, crown, and upper-parts, the 

 chestnut tippet or ruffle with blackish 

 margin, the white secondaries conspicuous 



in flight, and the white under-parts. Female duller, with smaller 



crest and tippet. The young are said to show little crest or 



chestnut colour till the second year. 

 Nest. In the shallows of lakes, 



either floating on the surface attached 



to surrounding reeds or other aquatic 



plants, or built up from the bottom. 



Material: a mass of aquatic plants. 



Eggs usually covered when bird not on. 



Eggs. Usually 4. Chalky-white, pale bluish or greenish-white, 

 but soon stained dirty brownish by con- 

 tact with wet weeds. Av. size, 2*20 x 1'44 

 in. Laying begins April-May. Broods 

 1-2. 



184. Little-grebe or dabchick [Colym- 

 bus ruficollis Pallas ; Podicipes fluviatilis 

 (Tunstall)"]. Resident. Also found gener- 

 ally distributed on our rivers, lakes, and 

 ponds. Found on the coast in winter. 

 Length 9-| in., therefore much smaller than the pre- 



Fig. 109. 



