RED-NECKED GREBE. 461 



used as a roosting-place for the parent which, for the time being, is not 

 occupied with the incubation of the eggs. Fresh eggs may be obtained 

 during the first half of May. When the third egg is laid the bird begins 

 to sit ; but it is ever on the look-out for danger, and long before the nest 

 can be discovered, the approach of an intruder has been observed, the eggs 

 have been carefully covered with black weeds to keep them warm, and the 

 bird may be seen apparently feeding at a distance, as innocent and un- 

 conscious as possible. 



The number of eggs is usually three, often four, and they vary in length 

 from 2-1 to 1*9 inch, and in breadth from T4 to T25 inch. The ground- 

 colour is green, but this is so coated over with chalky white, of a more or 

 less irregular and rough texture, that it can only be seen here and there. 

 They are smaller than eggs of the Great Crested Grebe, though both 

 dimensions overlap, but never on the same egg. This is also the case 

 with the eggs of the Black-throated and Sclavonian Grebes, which are 

 always smaller. 



The Red-necked Grebe very closely resembles in its habits the Great 

 Crested Grebe, and on the lakes at Riddagshausen, and in other places, it 

 breeds in the company of its larger ally. Its food, mode of flight, wonder- 

 ful power of diving, and great difficulty in walking are the same. Its 

 notes are very similar, the alarm-note being slightly shriller, and the call- 

 notes more guttural and more resembling a scream. 



The adult male Red-necked Grebe in nuptial plumage, with the ex- 

 ception of the head and neck, very closely resembles the Great Crested 

 Grebe ; but the general colour of the upper parts is a somewhat darker 

 brown, and the pale margins of the feathers are much more obscure. The 

 colour of the head and neck is very different, the nuptial crests are much 

 shorter and scarcely separated from each other, whilst the tippet is nearly 

 obsolete. The forehead, crown, and hind neck are olive-black, which 

 colour extends to the lores and to the eye ; the chin, upper throat, and 

 sides of the head below the eye are grey, shading into white, apparently 

 to emphasize the black hood and the chestnut lower neck and upper 

 breast. Bill black, but the lower mandible and the sides of the upper 

 mandible yellow at the base; bare space between the eye and the base 

 of the bill reddish black ; legs and feet dull green, darkest at the joints; 

 irides brownish red. The adult female closely resembles the male in 

 colour, but is slightly smaller in size. The winter and immature plumages 

 of this bird are scarcely to be distinguished from those of the Great 

 Crested Grebe, but it may be recognized by its smaller size and by the 

 absence of the white stripe extending from the lores over the eye. Young 

 in down have the upper parts dark brown, striped with white on the head 

 and neck, and with pale brown on the back ; the underparts are white, 

 striped and spotted on the throat with dark brown. 



