THE GREAT-CRESTED GREBE 



each feather with a pale brown margin ; the lesser wing- 

 coverts form a white band along the carpal region ; the 

 secondaries and the under parts generally are white, 

 shading into brown on the flanks, which are further 

 mottled with chestnut ; the forehead, crown, hind neck, 

 and crest of two " horns " dark brown ; the lores and 

 throat are white, shading into the chestnut of the bushy 

 nuptial tippet, which is margined with black. Bill red ; 

 tarsi and lobed toes olive-green ; irides crimson. Length 

 20 inches. The female has the tippet and " horns " 

 less developed. After the autumn moult these orna- 

 ments are lost by both sexes. The young in first plumage 

 closely resemble this winter dress of the adult. The 

 young in down have the head, neck, and under parts 

 white, the rest of the upper parts brown ; there are black 

 stripes on the upper parts, and the breast and the cheeks 

 are grey. There are also two black stripes across the 

 bill. 



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