BLACK-NECKED GREBE. 467 



1*25 to 1*1 inch. They cannot be distinguished from the eggs of the 

 Sclavonian Grebe, but they are always larger than eggs of the Little 

 Grebe, and smaller than those of the Red-necked Grebe. Neither dimen- 

 sion ever overlaps that of the former, nor do both dimensions ever overlap 

 those of the latter. 



The stomachs of the Black-throated Grebe generally contain small 

 aquatic animals of all kinds mixed with some vegetable matter and, what 

 is very curious, generally with quantities of its own feathers. In South 

 Africa the Black-necked Grebe breeds in December, making a floating 

 nest concealed amongst the rushes. It can scarcely be regarded as a 

 gregarious bird : it is said to pair for life and to migrate in pairs ; but 

 in suitable localities its nests are often numerous, though never very close 

 together. 



The Black-necked Grebe principally differs from the Sclavonian Grebe 

 in having the bill slightly recurved, the lores, chin, throat, and upper 

 breast black, instead of chestnut, and the white on the secondaries extending 

 on the inner webs of many of the adjacent primaries, a distinction which 

 is of great importance in the identification of winter skins. Bill black ; 

 bare space between the eye and the base of the bill reddish black ; legs 

 and feet olive-green, paler on the webs ; irides crimson. In its changes 

 of plumage it does not differ from its allies in any important respect. 

 Young in down are striped brown and black on the upper parts and white 

 on the underparts. 



