Food. 
Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Adult bird. 
398 | NATATORES. PODICEPS. GREBE. 
England, where a fresh specimen in this state never fell un- 
der my observation. It does, however, breed (though in 
small numbers) in the fenny districts of the eastern coun- 
ties, but not, as far as I can ascertain, in Scotland, although 
Dr Fiemine, in his History of British Animals, has given 
it as resident there, and common. In the young state, or as 
the Dusky Grebe of authors, it is by no means uncommon 
upon our coasts during the winter months, where it mhabits 
inlets and the mouths of rivers, and scarcely a season passes 
without several of these and the young of the next species 
being brought for my inspection. Its habits are similar to 
those of the two preceding species, and it is equally active in 
the water, whether in swimming or diving. It feeds on 
shell-fish, crustaceze, and insects ; and in its stomach, on dis- 
section, is found the same sort of concreted mass of feathers 
that has been before mentioned in the account of the Red- 
necked Grebe, and which appear to be mostly taken from 
the under parts of the body.—I1 breeds among the reeds and 
sedges, constructing a large nest of decayed vegetables, roots, 
&c., and which is calculated to rise and fall under the influ- 
ence of the tide. In this it lays four or five eggs of a sul- 
lied white, but according to Temmtnck, spotted with brown. 
In Europe, it is most plentiful towards the north-east, and is 
also found in Northern Asia. It is a common species in 
North America, and is described by Dr RicHarpson as fre- 
quenting every lake with grassy borders throughout the fur 
countries. 
PiateE 74. Fig. 1. Represents the Adult Male, from a beau- 
tiful British specimen kindly lent to me for the present 
purpose by Wittram YarreELt, Esq. 
Rill shorter than the head, compressed ; both mandibles 
equally sloping to its point, black ; the base of the un- 
der mandible flesh-coloured, the extreme point greyish- 
white. Lore lake-red. Irides crimson, with an inte- 
rior ring of white. Forehead, crown, and large ruff 
