104 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 



in diving are taken beneath the literal " shelter of their mother's 

 wing." 



272. RED-CRESTED GREBE. (ZW^s rubricollis). 

 Not so common as the Grebe last named, and more frequently 

 met with on salt water, though not usually far from some estuary 

 or inland arm of the sea. It is not known to have bred in this 

 country. 



273. SCLAVONIAN GREBE (Podiceps comutus). 

 Dusky Grebe, Horned Grebe. Rather a rare bird in the 

 summer, and not common at any period of the year ; nor has it 

 ever been known to breed with us. 



274. EARED GREBE (Podiceps auritus). 



The rarest of all the Grebes. It occurs however from time to 

 time, and I knew of one instance in Essex some thirty years a^o 

 in which one of these birds was taken from a Water rat's hole, 

 into which it had been seen to creep for shelter. 



275. LITTLE GREBE (Podiceps minor). 

 Dabchick or Dobchick, Didapper, Small Ducker, Blackchin 



Grebe. A very common and very interesting little bird, and yet, 

 in spite of its frequency and familiarity, blessed with a couple of 

 scientific names, originating (as in the case of the Dunlin), in 

 differences of plumage, depending on age or season. It is 

 difficult to say where it is not to be met with in spring, provided 

 only there be what the Americans call a sufficient "water- 

 privilege," neither too shallow nor too rapid, for its requirements . 

 As expert a diver as any of those hitherto named, it seldom resorts 

 to the use of its wings, except just at the time when birds' love- 

 making goes on. Then the male (at least) may be seen working 

 his short wings most vigorously and rapidly, uttering his rattling 

 cry as he circles over and about the Mere on which he has 

 " squatted " for the season. The nest is a heap of water weeds 

 only just flush with the surface, and always steeping wet. The 

 eggs are four, five or six in number, perfectly white when laid, 

 but soon ceasing to be clean-looking, for they grow more dingy 

 day by day, until on some waters they become completely mud- 

 coloured, on others, assume a hue which I can compare to nothing 

 but old blood stains on some dirty surface. I am quite convinced 

 that in some cases at least this discolouration is intentional on the 

 part of the parent bird, though in others it may be simply due to 

 the action of the juices of fresh or decaying vegetable substances. 

 I never yet, though I have seen some dozens of nests, found the 

 egp left uncovered by the owner, save only in one instance, in 

 which only one egg had been laid. The weeds used as a covering 



