464 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



In the colour of its plumage at different ages and seasons the Sclavonian. 

 Grebe closely resembles the Red-necked Grebe; but it is a somewhat 

 smaller bird, and the nuptial plumes are quite different : these consist of 

 a chestnut crest on each side of the head, beginning on the lores and 

 extending backwards above the eye ; the nuptial tippet is somewhat more 

 developed and is black instead of grey ; the chestnut on the flanks is also 

 somewhat more developed. Bill black, crimson at the tip and at the base 

 of the under mandible; bare space between the eye and the base of the bill 

 crimson ; legs and feet olive-green, palest on the webs ; irides crimson. 

 In winter plumage it closely resembles the Red-necked Grebe and still 

 more closely the Black -necked Grebe, which is about the same size. From 

 the former it may be distinguished by its smaller size, the wing measuring 

 6 inches or under, instead of 6^ to 8 inches ; from the latter there are two 

 good points of distinction there is no white on any of the primaries, and 

 the bill is straight instead of being slightly recurved. In the young in 

 down the upper parts are dark brown, striped with white, especially on the 

 head and neck, and the underparts are white. Kriiper says that the white 

 stripes on the back are entirely lost after a few days. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE*S NEST. 



