THE GEEAT CRESTED GREBE. 
877 
fringe, rather contracted under the throat, somewhat 
resembling a thick pair of whiskers: these decorations 
give the face a singular expression. 
The Great Crested Grebe is distributed over the whole 
of Europe, and when migrating is found as far as 
Northern Africa. It prefers fresh water to the sea, 
taking up its abode in lakes and swamps, and occa¬ 
sionally in small inlets of the sea, dykes, and brackish 
lakes. Inland the winter’s frosts oblige it to migrate ; 
while it will remain on the sea, almost in the same 
locality, from year’s end to year’s end, during the most 
severe weather. This bird migrates no further than is 
absolutely necessary, and winters, therefore, in Switzer¬ 
land and Southern Europe. As soon as it is spring with 
us, it returns again, and that always singly; while in 
autumn it makes its appearance in large flocks. Its 
limited powers of flight oblige it to travel at night, 
though it will avail itself during the day of large sheets 
of water,—but not rivers, if it can avoid doing so,— 
and pursues its journey swimming. As soon as the 
bird has found a suitable locality it remains resident 
for a time, and thus affords us opportunity to watch 
its habits. • 
The Grebe may be seen on the move both day and 
night; and when it does sleep it is generally during the 
day. It pursues its avocations in the open portions of the 
water, some distance from the shore. It preens and oils 
its plumage, suns itself, and sleeps while swimming, as it 
manages to keep in the same place, in spite of wind and 
tide, by an imperceptible motion of the paddles, as they 
lay stretched out in the rear of the body. Towards dawn 
and dusk it approaches the shore, but never lands. It 
passes almost its whole life on the water, swimming or 
