RED-DECKED GEEBE. 115 



the said materials. It is placed upon the water, and attached 

 to the growing vegetation. 



The eggs of the Eed-necked Grebe are either white, or 

 white with a slight tinge of blue or green, clouded, Selby 

 says, with deep brown. They are four or five in number. 



Several pairs of these birds breed in the same locality. 



The male and female both assist in the construction of the 

 nest, and shew much affection for their charge. The young 

 take to the water as soon as they are hatched. 



Male; weight, from about eighteen or nineteen ounces, to 

 twenty-three; length, one foot four and a half, or from that to 

 one foot five inches and a half or one foot six inches. Bill, 

 dusky black, or dark horn-colour, except about the base, which 

 is reddish yellow, and the under side of the lower mandible 

 is of the latter colour; in winter the red becomes pale yellow. 

 Iris, fine orange red. The crest, which is short, the feathers 

 being a little lengthened on each side of the upper part of 

 the head, and capable of being extended or not at pleasure, 

 the forehead and crown, rich blackish brown, in winter tinged 

 with grey; the sides of the lower part of the head greyish 

 white. Neck on the back, and nape, dark greyish black; the 

 sides and front of the neck, rusty yellowish red; chin and 

 throat, white, or greyish white. Breast on the upper part, 

 and below, silvery greyish white, turning to brownish grey, 

 with some dusky streaks on the sides. Back, dark greyish 

 or blackish brown; the tips of the feathers being greyish 

 brown, the remainder blackish brown. 



The wings are very short; greater and lesser wing coverts, 

 dusky blackish brown; primaries, dark, nearly black towards the 

 tips, the remainder dark tawny brown; secondaries, mostly white, 

 and some with more or less black on the outer webs, one or 

 two of the first, that is, towards the outside of the wing, have 

 the tips only white, gradually increasing on each; tertiaries, 

 dusky blackish brown. Under tail coverts, greyish brown. The 

 legs are broad and flat, edgeways towards the front. They 

 are greenish black on the outer part, and on the inner dull 

 yellowish green; toes, the same; lobes, dusky on the outside. 



Female; bill at the base, dull yellow. Crown, neck on the 

 back, and nape, dusky; throat, white. Breast above, pale 

 reddish rust-colour, mixed with some dusky; below, dusky 

 white. Back, dusky. 



The young have the head and neck dusky brown, the chin 

 and throat greyish white; the back paler than in the adult. 



