PLATE LXVIIL 



The extraordinary length of the neck, and remarkable ftructure of 

 the feet, give it a mod aukward, yet fingular appearance. The bread 

 and belly is of a very beautiful filvery white, intermixed with fhades 

 of pale ferruginous colour, and has a glofs like fattin ; thefe fkins 

 are in much requeft, and like thofe of the Grebe of Geneva are made 

 into muffs, tippets, &c. In February the fkins lofe the bright co- 

 lour, and in the breeding time the bread is almoft bare. 



Mr. Latham gives a minute account of the plumage of this fpecies 

 in feveral flages of life ; he fays, " At nrft they are perfectly downy 

 and ftriped, efpecially down the neck, with black : after this, when 

 about half grown, the (tripes on the neck are lefs diftincl:, being 

 rather mottled than ftriped, and the under parts, though white, is 

 clouded with dufky ; at this period a fullnefs round the head is ob- 

 ferved : as the bird advances ftill further towards perfection, the 

 brown and white appears clear and diftin£t., the head becomes much 

 tufted, and the horns are a little elongated. But we have great reafon 

 to believe that the bird does not obtain the full and perfect crefl till 

 the fecond year at leaft." 



This fpecies is common in fome parts of this country. They breed 

 in the meres of Shropjhire and Chejhife, and in the eaji fen of Lin- 

 coin/hire*. The female lays four white eggs, the fize of thofe of a 

 pigeon ; the neft in which they are depofited, like others of the 

 Grebe kind, are compofed of different kinds of water plants, fuch 

 as the ftalks of the Water Lily, Pond Weed, &c. carelefsly put to- 

 gether, and left floating on the water, among the flags and rufhes. 

 The old bird feeds on fmall fifh j when the young brood is hatched, 



* They are called by the country people of this part Gauntu 



I 2 they 



