BRITISH BIRDS. 167 



THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 

 (J'odiceps Rnbricollis, Lath. Grebe jou-gr is, Temm.^ 



THIS bird measures, from the bill to the rump, 

 seventeen inches, to the end of the toes twenty-two, 

 and weighs about eighteen ounces and three- 

 quarters. The bill is about two inches long, dusky 

 or horn-coloured on the ridge and tip, and, on the 

 sides of it, towards the corners of the mouth, red- 

 dish yellow ; under side of the lower mandible also 

 of the latter colour : lore dusky : irides dark hazel : 

 cheeks and throat dirty or greyish white: upper 

 part of the head black, with a greyish cast; the 

 feathers are lengthened on each side on a line with 

 the eyes backward, so as to look like a pair of 

 rounded ears ; these it can raise or depress at 

 pleasure : the fore part and sides of the neck are of 

 a clingy brown, mixed with feathers of a bright 

 rusty red: the upper parts of the plumage are 

 darkish mouse-coloured brown, lightest on the wing 

 coverts, deepest on the scapulars and rump, and 

 edged with grey on the shoulders; under parts 



