644 



Its call is a loud tolerably clear keck, keck, keck, which resounds to a considerable distance, 

 and is by no means pleasant, but rather the contrary, especially when heard in the stillness 

 of the evening during the breeding-season, when its call-note is modified so as to form a sort 

 of song, if such it can be called. It breeds amongst the reeds and flags on large ponds, 

 forming a massive nest consisting merely of a mass of damp aquatic herbage, which is generally 

 floating in the water, and is frequently moored by being attached to the reeds or rushes growing 

 near. At first the upper portion is tolerably dry, and there is a cup or depression in the centre ; 

 but soon, owing to the bird continually bringing water with it as it shuffles onto the nest, the 

 latter becomes sodden and wet until it resembles more a mass of herbage driven together by the 

 wind than a nest. The eggs, three or four in number, are like those of Podiceps cristatus, but 

 are smaller, those in my collection varying from 2 - by l-^§ to 2^j by \\% inch in size. When 

 first deposited they are clean bufly white with a greenish tinge; but soon the damp herbage in 

 the nest sullies the eggs and discolours them considerably. When the bird leaves its nest it 

 covers the eggs up carefully, never leaving them exposed. Very soon after the young are hatched 

 they leave the nest and can swim with ease, soon learning also to dive. 



The food of the Red-necked Grebe consists of small fish and aquatic insects of various 

 kinds ; and occasionally remains of tender shoots of aquatic plants are also found in its stomach. 

 Like its allies it obtains its food chiefly by diving, and but seldom takes it from the surface of 

 the water. 



The specimens figured are an adult male in summer dress and an adult in winter plumage, 

 the latter being in the background of the Plate. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, ad., winter dress. Leadenhall Market, b, <J . Schleswig, January 20th, 1870 (Schliiter). c, $ ad. Holbok, 

 Denmark, June 9th, 1871 (Benzon). d, <3 ad. Lake Onega, July 26th, 1869 (Meves). e, d ad. Arch- 

 angel, July 14th, 1874. /, $ ad. Ujma, Archangel, May 20th, 1876. g,juv. Archangel, August 12th, 

 1875 {Piottuch). 



E Mus. Brit. Reg. 



a, ad., b, juv. West of Rocky Mountains (J. K. Lord), c, ad. Fort Simpson, June 2nd, 1878. d, juv. 

 Howe Sound, British Columbia. 



E Mus. J. Zohrab. 

 a, d , b, ? , summer dress. Erzeroom. 



