286 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



species in this country would be sought for in vain. 

 The nests that I have seen were composed of masses 

 of dead weed piled up amongst growing water-plants 

 on the borders of streams or well out on a pool. I 

 have never noticed any attempt to conceal the nest, 

 though the parent birds, unless suddenly startled, 

 always pull a small bunch or two of weed over 

 their eggs on quitting them after the full complement 

 of four or five has been laid. Although the Little 

 Grebe, as a rule, dives immediately when alarmed, 

 this is not invariably the case ; on one occasion in 

 the summer one of these birds rose three or four 

 times before our punt, from the weedy banks of the 

 Nen, without being pressed by a dog or in any way 

 closely followed up. The habits of the Dabchick 

 during the nesting-season may now be closely observed 

 by anyone passing through St. James's Park, as 

 several pairs annually breed on the ornamental 

 water therein, and are, as I am assured, perfectly 

 fearless of the numerous and frequent spectators. 

 Although, as I have already stated, this bird is 

 apparently averse to take wing, it can, and constantly 

 does, take long aerial journeys, as has been repeatedly 

 proved by its sudden appearance on small isolated 

 pools at all seasons of the year in situations that 

 it could not possibly reach by land. I ought not, 

 however, to omit to state that very competent 

 observers have recorded that the Dabchick can run 

 swiftly ; this is contrary to my own experience, but 

 certainly not to be doubted on that account, and 

 I may mention that this is the only species of Grebe 

 that I have ever distinctly seen standing upright 

 upon its feet. The ordinary cry of our bird is a 

 short squeak, but it has also a prolonged twittering 

 and, comparatively speaking, powerful cry. The 



