198 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



of these it may readily be distinguished by its 

 large size it is the largest of its family, measuring 

 nearly two feet in length and in summer the 

 black ear-tufts, and the chestnut margined with 

 black tippet or hood, are additional and very 

 notable characteristics. The Great Crested Grebe 

 builds a bulky nest often a floating structure 

 moored to the reeds made of dead and rotting 

 aquatic vegetation of all kinds, the drier and 

 finer materials being reserved for the lining. The 

 five eggs are, so far as colour is concerned, exactly 

 similar to those of the other Grebes, bluish white ;, 

 but their much larger size prevents any confusion. 

 They soon become soiled by contact with the 

 nest and the wet feet and plumage of the parents. 

 The three other species of Grebes that are in- 

 cluded in our avifauna are only known as winter 

 East coasts visitors to our islands. They are the RED-NECKEI> 

 GREBE (P. rubricollis)> length sixteen inches ; the 

 SCLAVONIAN GREBE (P. cornutus\ length thirteen 

 inches. This latter species is a little more widely 

 dispersed, frequenting the Hebrides, the coasts 

 of Ireland, and the south coast of England, as 

 well as the districts visited by the preceding bird. 

 Lastly, the BLACK-NECKED GREBE (P. nigricollis), 

 E ngiand f ^ en g tn about the same as the last, perhaps a 

 Ver .y trifle smaller, and remarkable for having white 



accidental '. ? 



elsewhere, on the primaries as well as the secondaries, and 

 the bill recurved. Although very distinct in their 

 breeding or nuptial plumage, the two latter birds 

 are apt to be confused in their winter dress ; but 

 the points of distinction here given are always 

 sufficient rightly to determine them. The Black- 

 necked Grebe is perhaps most frequently observed 



