THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE 329 



need that it takes to flight, and beats the water for some 

 time before it begins to rise. Having once risen it flies 

 rapidly and steadily. 



Its powerful, piercing voice has various sounds. The 

 call- note sounds like "Kekekeke" ; during the brooding 

 time its cry "Kroar" or " Kruor" is heard at a long 

 distance. 



The Great Crested Grebe is resident in Great Britain 

 on many sheets of water where reeds grow in plenty, 

 such as the Broads of Norfolk, the meres of Cheshire 

 and Lancashire, lakes in Wales, and very occasionally 

 only in Scotland. In the County of Stafford the 

 Great-crested Grebe and Little Grebe, or Dabchick, are 

 protected all the year round; and the meres in the West 

 of Staffordshire, together with those of Shropshire, form 

 one of the chief breeding areas of the former species of 

 Great Britain and Ireland. On Trentham Lake, Dr. 

 McAldowie has observed the Great-crested Grebe in 

 mid-winter. They have also bred there of late years. 

 On the rivers Dove and Trent, however, it has only 

 been seen during the periods of migration. That it 

 nests on the Lake Aqualate and on that in Trentham 

 Park proves what the protection of landowners will do. 



The Great Crested Grebe is the size of a Wild Duck 

 but more slender. The general appearance of the bird, 

 with its long outstretched thin neck is that of a long- 

 necked bottle. It has on its black crown a double crest, 

 forked and inclining backwards something in the 

 manner of ears ; on its neck, beginning at the back of 

 the head and reaching to the throat, it has a red collar 

 of split feathers with dark borders closely set together, 



