The nest has been described as floating about with the 
current, which, most probably, frequently occurs, as the nest 
is loosely constructed of a large quantity of vegetable mat- 
ter, as the decaying stalks and leaves of grass, rushes, and 
other aquatic plants, dry sea weed, and almost any sub- 
stance of this kind; it is generally placed close at the water's 
edge, consequently liable to be floated away at any extra- 
4>rdinary rise of the water. 
It lays four or five eggs, of a dull opaque white, longer 
but not so bulky as those of the common Hen ; when the 
contents are removed froni the shell it has a beautiful verdi- 
gris hue on the inside, if viewed between the eye and the 
light; this circumstance is common to all the Grebe familj 
we have met with. The eggs are sometimes used for the 
table, and are considered by some persons as preferable to 
those of the common Fowl. 
The young feed on small fish, aquatic insects and worms, 
which they are very dexterous in procuring for themselves ; 
the parent birds are very attentive to them, searching out 
food, and protecting them from danger ; but we very much 
doubt the statement made ii^ British Zoology of their 
carrying" their young on their backs, or under their wings ; 
the more so as these birds swim very deep in the water, but 
little more than their heads appearing. 
The skins of this species is often manufactured into muffs 
and tippets ; and in many parts of the North of Europe they 
are prepared and worn next the skin by persons of weak 
constitutions. 
