GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 
441 
NAT A TORES. 
COL YMBIDAL 
GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 
LOON. 
PODICEPS CRISTATUS. 
PLATE CXX. FIG. II. 
Mr. Salmon, from whose correspondence I derived much 
pleasure and information during the publication of the 
Oology, kindly obtained for me at that time the following 
particulars relative to the habits of this species, from the 
Rev. Richard Lubbock, of Norwich. 
“ The nest is often placed in an exposed situation, the 
season of nidification early—the middle of April: so that 
the young reeds have hardly sprouted sufficiently to con¬ 
ceal the nest from any one who passes in a boat; yet the 
appearance of the whole is so like a decayed mass of water- 
plants swept together by the wind, as not to be easily 
distinguished by an unpractised eye. Great portion of 
the nest is under water; that which is above is conical in 
some degree, and on the top, in a slight cavity, are de¬ 
posited the eggs, of a whitish colour by nature, but often 
so stained by the damps of the locality as to present quite 
a different appearance. These eggs vary in number. I 
have seen nests with only three, all nearly hatched; four 
is a common number, and sometimes there are five, but 
one at least is generally addled, so that three young Loons 
are generally seen following the old one. The eggs are, 
almost without an exception, found covered with some 
