THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 273 



but only for an instant. It need hardly be added, that all 

 the grebes dive with their eyes open, because on account 

 of the hardness of their bills they can prey only by sight ; 

 and their motions under the water, although playful in 

 appearance, are not play, but the regular business of finding 

 their food. 



That food consists of the spawn and fry of fishes, water 

 beetles, and other insects, Crustacea and mollusca, and some- 

 times, it is said, of vegetable substances. They are also said 

 to pull out and swallow their own feathers, as soon as they 

 feel them beginning to decay. In this country they inhabit 

 the fresh waters, at least the resident ones do, and only resort 

 to the shore when they are frozen out but salt and fresh 

 water are equally indifferent to them ; and they sometimes 

 are entangled in fishing-nets at the depth of two or three 

 fathoms. Those which are more marine in their habits, 

 build their nests in holes on the shore ; and the more inland 

 ones form large but rude nests of aquatic plants close by the 

 water. The eggs are usually three or four. There is not 

 much difference in the plumage and appearance of the sexes. 

 Grebes are generally plump and fat from the abundance of 

 tjieir food, and their agility in the capture of it ; but their 

 flavour is oily and rank. There are five British species, one 

 visitant and four residents. 



THE RED-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps 



This species is rather rare, and has hitherto been met with 

 only in the winter. It is thicker and less handsome in shape 

 than any of the others. Its length is about seventeen inches, 

 and its weight a pound and a half. Feet, except the insides 

 of the tarsi, which have a yellowish tinge, dusky, bill the 

 same at the tip, yellowish at the base, irides hazel, naked 

 space round the eye brownish black. Upper parts brownish 

 black, with the secondary quills and a part of the base of the 



VOL. II. T 



