740 



THE DABCHICK. 



yearling birds, and does not attain its Ml dimensions until the third year. The lengt,h of 

 this species is about twenty-two inches. 



The Eared Grebe is the rarest of the British species, and derives its name from a tuft 

 of rich golden feathers which arise behind the eye of the adult bird. It is not nearly so 

 large as the preceding species, being only one foot in length, and it may be distinguished 

 from a young crested Grebe by the slight upward curve of the bill, and the absence of 

 rusty red feathers between the eye and base of the beak. The food of this bird consists 

 of small fish, molluscs, aquatic insects, and some water-plants. The nest is made among 

 thick herbage, and the eggs are creamy white, and three or four in number. 



The head and neck of the Eared Grebe are black, and the back very dark brown. A 

 triangular patch of bright warm chestnut feathers is placed behind the eye, and the 

 secondaries are white. The under surface of the body is silken white, deepening to 

 chestnut on the flanks, and the legs are green. 



Another very fine British species is the Sclavonian or Horned Grebe {Podiceps 

 cornutus), remarkable for its splendid ruff of dark brown feathers. This bird has been 

 seen to carry its young upon its back, and to dive with them when alarmed. 



The well-known Dab- 

 chick, or Little Grebe, is 

 the smallest and commonest 

 of the British species, being 

 found in most rivers, lakes, 

 or large ponds, where the 

 weeds and rushes afford it a 

 concealment, and a founda- 

 tion for its nest. 



It is a pretty little bird, 

 quick and alert in its move- 

 ments, and, like the rest of 

 the Grebes, has a great love 

 for water, and an invincible 

 antipathy to land. When 

 alarmed it dives so instan- 

 taneously that the eye can 

 hardly follow its movements, 

 and if at the moment of its 

 emergence it perceives itself 

 still in danger it again dives, 

 not having been on the sur- 

 face for a single second of 

 time. Like many other 

 aquatic birds, it can sink it- 

 self in the water slowly, and 

 often does so when uneasy, 

 rising again if relieved from 

 its anxiety, or disappearing 

 as if jerked under the surface 



from below. I have often seen them in a little pond only a few yards across, thus 



diving and popping up again with almost ludicrous rapidity. 



This bird can fly moderately well, and can rise from the water without difficulty, when 



it will circle about the spot whence it rose, .and keep some five or six feet above the 



surface, uttering the while its curious rattling cry. 



The nest of this bird is made of water-weeds, and is placed among the rank aquatic 



herbage. It is scarcely raised above the surface, and is mostly wet. The eggs are 



five or six in number, and their normal colour is white, though they soon become stained 



Avith the decaying vegetable matter on which they rest, and before hatching are of a 



DABCHI CK. — Podiceps mi nor. 



