630 



Adult Male (Lower Volga, April). Crown and occipital tufts greenish black with a greyish tinge; from the 

 base of the upper mandible a reddish white band passes over the eye, joining the white on the cheeks ; 

 chin and fore part of the face white; the ruff light brownish-red anteriorly, and greyish black behind; 

 hind neck blackish grey, the fore part white, tinged with buffy brown on the sides ; upper parts generally 

 greyish black, some of the feathers edged with dark brownish-grey ; anterior edge of the wing, all the 

 short secondaries, and a few of the lower scapulars white; underparts silvery white, the flanks buffy 

 brown ; bill blackish brown, yellowish at the base, and along the under mandible ; a bare space from 

 the eye to the mouth dusky green ; iris carmine-red ; legs dusky green externally, greenish yellow 

 internally; toes greenish yellow above, dusky below, the margins and claws dusky. Total length 

 about 22-23 inches, culmen 2 - l, gape 2'5, wing 7 - 4, tarsus 2-5. 



Adult Female (Lower Volga) . Resembles the male, but is smaller, and has the ruff and occipital tufts less 

 developed. 



Young (Leadenbali Market). Crown and hind neck dark warm earth-brown, the occipital feathers on each 

 side rather elongated ; lores and a streak over the eye white, the latter interrupted by a reddish brown 

 streak from the centre above the eye, another broad streak passes below the eye, and another narrow 

 reddish brown streak passes from the eye right along the neck ; rest of the head, neck, and underparts 

 white, the flanks brownish grey ; upper parts dark brown, the dorsal feathers edged with lighter brown ; 

 wings as in the adult, but duller; beak dull greenish yellow, with the ridge greyish brown; iris 

 yellowish ; legs greenish yellow with a fleshy tinge. 



Young in down (South Russia). Crown black, with a bare spot on the forehead and a white stripe through 

 the centre of the crown ; chin and upper throat white, with a black spot on each side of the base of the 

 bill; rest of the head and neck white or buffy white, with broad stripes running right clown; upper 

 parts buffy brown, with broad black stripes running the whole length of the body ; underparts white, 

 becoming buffy brown on the crissum. 



06s. The winter dress of the adult bird differs but little from that worn in the summer, except that the 

 occipital tufts and ruff are shorter. Naumann, Yarrell, Macgillivray, and most of the best authorities 

 agree in saying that the adult bird has the lower mandible carmine at the base, and on the upper 

 mandible a carmine streak from the base to beyond the nostrils; but Mr. Booth, the well-known 

 Brighton naturalist, assures me that, though he has shot many, he has never seen this rich carmine 

 colour at the base of the bill. I have unfortunately not seen a fresh-killed specimen for many years ; 

 and when I did I omitted to note down the colours of the soft parts, and am consequently unable to 

 state from personal observation if he is correct in his assertion. 



Formerly the Great Crested or Tippet Grebe used to breed not uncommonly in many parts of 

 England, especially in the fen districts ; but it has been so mercilessly persecuted that it has 

 gradually become rare, though, according to Mr. More (Ibis, 1865, p. 448), "a few pairs breed 

 in the counties of Sussex, Herts, Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon (perhaps extinct, Mr. F. Bond), 

 Worcester, Warwick, Shropshire, Lincoln, Cheshire, and in both divisions of Yorkshire. Yarrell 

 tells us that the Great Crested Grebe breeds on some of the lakes of Wales ; but I do not kuow 

 in which of the districts." It is found chiefly in winter in many parts of the country ; and 

 Lord Lilford informs me that it generally appears during severe frosts. In the Hu ruber district, 

 Mr. Cordeaux says, it is only occasionally met with on the Croxby pond, on the North Wolds, and 

 no longer nests in North Lincolnshire. It breeds, however, every year on Hornsea Mere, in the 



