20 
than the Dobchick, being only eight inches in length, 
whereas the Dobchick is ten inches. In breadth ours is 
also much less in proportion. The bill is about the length 
of that of the Dobchick, or not quite one inch. Irides 
reddish-hazel. Immediately at the base of the under man- 
dible is a nearly triangular blotch of a yellowish hue. 
The chin under it is black or dark brown. The back is 
dusky brown. The rest is pretty well expressed in the 
figure. The eggs are white, large in proportion to the 
bird, being one inch and a half long, but are figured too 
small. The nest is supported by the herbage immediately 
on the surface of the water, and seems so managed as to 
rise with the tide, though always wet to the very eggs. It 
seems promiscuously made of the rushes, &c. about the 
place, and rather rudely, being only rounded, slightly en- 
tangled, and flatted somewhat horizontally, with very little, 
or scarcely any, cavity. 
I am obliged to my friend Mr. Plasted, of whom I have 
spoken before, for the loan of these valuable specimens. 
They were taken in a pond on Chelsea Common about 
June 1805. 
