302 THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK 



of the north-eastern parts of Europe, and is fairly common along 

 the eastern coast of Great Britain from autumn to spring. In 

 habits it differs Httle from the last described species, but is less 

 common, occurring both in fresh-water lakes and along the sea- 

 coast. 



SLAVONIAN GREBE 

 p6dicipes auritus 



Bill strong, shorter than the head, compressed throughout its whole length, 

 black, with the tip red ; eyes with a double iris, the inner yellow, the outer 

 red ; distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill six or seven lines ; 

 head and bushy ruff glossy black ; two horn-like crests orange-red ; ' 

 lore, neck, and breast, bright chestnut ; upper plumage dusky ; second- 

 aries and under parts white ; bill black, rose-coloured at the base and 

 red at the tip. Young — crest and ruff wanting ; upper plumage and 

 flanks dusky ash, under parts white ; irides white, surrounded by red. 

 Eggs dirty white. 



The Slavonian, or Homed Grebe, approaches so closely in habits 

 to the two preceding species that it is urmecessary to say more than 

 that it inhabits the northern parts of America and Europe, visiting 

 Us from autumn to spring. Audubon describes its nest as a rude 

 structure of weeds, situated at a distance of about twelve feet 

 from the water's edge ; but other authors state that though it 

 constructs its nest of these materials, it disposes it among weeds in 

 such a way that it rises and falls with every alteration in the level 

 of the water. It lays from five to seven eggs, and the male is 

 supposed to assist in the office of incubation. 



THE LITTLE GREBE, OR DABCHICK 



PODICIPES FLUViAtILIS 



Bill very short, shining, compressed ; no crest or ruff ; distance from nostrils 

 to tip of the bill five lines ; tarsus with a double row of serratures behind ; 

 head black ; cheeks bright chestnut ; breast and flanks dusky, mottled 

 with white ; upper parts dark brown, tinged with green ; primaries ash- 

 brown ; secondaries white at the base and on the inner web, under parts 

 dusky ash, tinged on the thighs with reddish ; bill black, whitish at the 

 tip and base of the lower mandible ; irides reddish brown ; feet externally 

 greenish brown, beneath flesh-colour. Young birds are ash-brown 

 above, slightly tinged with red ; breast and flanks reddish white ; belly 

 pure white ; bill brown and yellowish ash. Length nearly ten inches. 

 Eggs dirty white. 



The Lesser Grebe, or, as it is more commonly called, the Dabchick, 

 is the only species with which it is possible to become familiarly 

 acquainted in Britain. It frequents rivers, ponds, and lakes, in 

 all parts of the country, rarely flying, and still more rarely coming 

 to land. 

 Rambling by the side of a sluggish river, the sides of which are lined 



