Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Adult bird. 
396 NATATORES. PODICEPS. GREBE. 
these, though short, are not comparatively smaller than in 
some other species that are known to fly occasionally. Up- 
on the continental parts of Europe it is abundant, particular- 
ly in Holland and certain districts of Germany. It is also 
known in America, and is mentioned in the Fauna Americze 
Borealis, as having been killed by Dr Rrcuarpson upon the 
Suskatshewan.—It breeds in the fresh water, amidst reeds 
and other rank herbage, and the nest, which is very large 
and floats on the surface, is composed of a mass of decayed 
vegetable roots, flags, stems of water-lily, &c. The eggs, 
three or four in number, are of a greenish-white, in size 
rather bigger than those of a Teal. The young, when first 
excluded, are clothed in a parti-coloured down of reddish- 
brown and greyish-white, and are assiduously attended by 
the parent, who procures food for them, and, according to 
Pennant, has often been observed to feed them with small 
eels. 
Pate 73. Fig. 1. Represents the adult bird in perfect plu- 
mage. 
Bill longer than the head, measuring two inches in length 
from the forehead to the tip; the base dull brick-red, 
the tip greyish-white. Lores red. Irides crimson-red. 
Fyestreak, cheeks, and throat, white. Crown of the 
head, long occipital tufts, and bottom part of the neck- 
frieze, lustrous greyish-black. The upper part of the 
neck-frieze pale reddish-brown. Fore part of the neck 
and under parts white, with a silky or silvery lustre. 
Hind part of the neck, back, scapulars, middle wing- 
coverts and flanks, deep clove-brown, with a blackish- 
green lustre. Wing-coverts next to the shoulders, and 
the secondary quills, white. Greater quills hair-brown. 
Legs on the outside grey, or deep lead-colour; on the 
inside yellowish-white. Hind ridge of the tarsus hav- 
ing a double row of serratures, formed by the projec- 
tion of the scales that run down each side. 
1 
