Dabchicks 5 3 



hardly be persuaded that a nest existed there until I drew 

 back the covering and exposed the single egg which had as 

 yet been laid. 



Such ideal sites are not always available, however, though 

 it is very exceptional for any other to be used. I once 

 came upon a Dabchick sitting on a nest under a tuft of 

 heather, six feet away from the water's edge, and had the 

 pleasure of seeing her more than once run from the nest to 

 the water at our approach. This was down a muddy slope, 

 and her frequent journeys had worn quite a track on the 

 soft soil. 



The young ones take to the water almost as soon as they 

 are hatched, and in a short time become almost as expert as 

 their parents under water. Before that state of inde- 

 pendence is reached they are tended by both father and 

 mother with the most unremitting care. Food is brought 

 up for them from beneath the water, and on the appearance 

 of danger they are taken upon their parents' back and 

 carried off, either above or below the surface, to a place of 

 safety. This operation it has been my good fortune to 

 witness more than once, the young birds being so well 

 concealed beneath the back feathers of the adult as to be 

 practically invisible* I have seen the parent dive with the 

 young on its back and come up again, ten yards away, with 

 them still in position. At other times I have seen young 

 grebes hanging by their mouths to the flank feathers of 

 their mother, and dragged off by her in that position, like 

 so many small boats being towed by a tug. 



The Great Crested Grebe, Gwyach-Fawr, or Gwyach 

 Gorniog-Fawr, only appears on the lake in spring, but is not 

 rare upon the sea-coast during autumn and winter. I did 

 not hear of it nesting anywhere nearer than the meres of 

 Cheshire and Shropshire, but if suitable water existed it 

 would no doubt remain to breed in other places. I watched 

 a pair near the Llanuwchllyn end of the lake one morning 

 at the end of March, and was much interested in their 

 proceedings. They were in full plumage, with fine large 

 hoods, which were frequently spread to their full extent and 

 refolded again as the birds swam together and bowed to 



