458 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



First winter. — When juvenile body-feathers are entirely moulted 

 becomes apparently like adult winter. The juvenile body -plumage 

 (not wings) sometimes begins to moult Aug., but sometimes in Bee. 

 moult has not proceeded very far. Very few juvenile moulting to 

 1st winter have been available for examination. 



Measurements and structure. — £ wing 160-180 (one 190) mm., 

 tarsus 50-58, bill from feathers 35-45 (12 measured). $ wing 155- 

 176, bill 35-40. Primaries : 1st very small and hidden, 3rd longest, 

 2nd and 4th sometimes as long but usually 1-4 mm. shorter, 5th 

 8-14 shorter, 6th 15-21 shorter ; 3rd and 4th distinctly and 2nd 

 and 5th slightly emarginated near tips of outer webs and 2nd and 

 3rd on inner webs. Rest of structure as in P. cristatus. 



Soft parts. — Bill black, base of lower mandible and cutting edge 

 of upper at base lemon-yellow, (winter and juv. sides and tip greyer, 

 base duller) ; legs and feet blackish on outside tarsus and under- 

 side lobes, yellowish-white to greenish-yellow inside tarsus and 

 upperside lobes ; iris (ad.) dark brown, (juv.) yellowish. 



Characters and allied forms. — P. g. holboellii (N.E. Asia, N. 

 America) has longer bill and wing. Size intermediate between 

 Great Crested and Slavonian, yellow base to bill, spotted sides of 

 body and in summer red throat and grey cheeks and no " tippet " 

 distinguish this from other British Grebes. 



Field -characters. — Characteristic features of breeding plumage 

 are rich chestnut fore-neck, pale slate-grey cheeks and conspicuously 

 yellow base of bill. Differs from Great Crested Grebe in winter by 

 lacking white superciliary streak, has darker upper -parts, com- 

 paratively shorter neck and stouter build. 



Breeding-habits. — Found on lagoons, backwaters of large rivers 

 and lakes. Nest. — Usual heap of weeds, and miscellaneous vege- 

 table matter in water with depression in middle for eggs. Eggs. — 

 Usually 4-5, occasionally 6, dull white with soft chalky surface, 

 readily absorbing stains. Average of 100 eggs, 50.6x33.9. Max.: 

 57x35.5 and 55.4x36.5. Min. : 46.7x33.8 and 50x30 mm, 

 Breeding -season. — From end April, but usually in May and early 

 June. Incubation. — By both sexes in turn. Period according to 

 Naumann 3 weeks. Single brooded. 



Food. — Small fish (roach up to 6 in., etc.) ; frogs ; insects (chiefly 

 water -beetles and Notonecta) together with numerous feathers and 

 traces of vegetable matter (confer vae, etc.). Also in winter Crustacea 

 (small crabs, etc.). 



Distribution. — British Isles. — -Winter- visitor (arriving from mid- 

 Sept.). Chiefly east coast Great Britain south of Forth, usually 

 uncommon but sometimes in considerable numbers, occasional 

 south coast England, rare west side Great Britain (not recorded 

 O. Hebrides), fairly frequent Orkneys, only occasional Shetlands, 

 only twelve obtained in Ireland. Rare inland waters. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Europe from northern Russia west to 



