166 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 



This, the largest species, the Podicipes cristatus 

 of naturalists, is chiefly an inland bird, but resorts 

 to the sea when fresh waters are frozen. I have 

 sometimes met with half a dozen together in a 

 quiet bay, under these circumstances, and very 

 graceful interesting birds they are. They rarely 

 come upon the land at these times, swimming about 

 and diving from time to time in quest of food. 

 Like the Divers, they sometimes sink the body very 

 low in the water, but under ordinary conditions sit 

 rather high, with the long neck held well up, the 

 head turned at intervals in all directions as if on the 

 look out for enemies. They always prefer to dive 

 when pursued ; and as this species more especially 

 is in great demand by plumasiers, and subject to 

 much persecution, it is wary and shy in extreme. 

 The food of this Grebe whilst on the sea is com- 

 posed largely of fish, but inland the bird's tastes 

 are more omnivorous. Sometimes many of its own 

 feathers are found in its stomach, mixed with the 

 food, but as yet ornithologists have been unable to 

 assign any plausible explanation of the fact. In 

 Spring, the adults assume two very conspicuous 

 crests or horns of a dark brown colour, and a tippet 

 or ruff of bright bay, shading into nearly black on 

 the margin. The birds now retire inland to meres 

 and lakes, where the shallows are full of reeds, 

 sedges, rushes, and other aquatic vegetation, and 



