POD1CEPS CRIS TATU S » tim .
PODICEPS CRISTATUSi
Great-crested Grcbe.
Colymhis <i ¡status, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 222.
-------------# inator, Linn, ibid., p. 223.
Podiceps cr status, Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. ii. p. 780.
Lophaitfufia cristata, Kaup.
T he flat coul tries o f Nor very i
Grebe; and
among the rei
mated pairs i
displaying the f i•-
mentation is | arra
is more consp woct
each other in | he 4
the female; f< ? tli
o f waters and *ee<!
indigenous bir( sir
loselv resemble those of Hoi land. mnl
o»)d, aftef arriving in March, conxtrart it» great
le» o f the little inland seas called broad». Then
i, with uplifted necks, coquetting and swimming
tore tally suited' to this
fted tippets to the best advantage. It will he
re, if unmolested, it
s which fringe the
ling about in the on
1 I'Xtrflt, among the Grebes, in this q w á n ; W tl
the decoration being equally borne by both sexes, '< f
during the season o f love. This is no gay drena «
make
3re*t and tippet is the nuptial costume o f both. In the .¡Noríol
ds) this elegant Grebe is a denizen. Surely it would caiise ro;.p
(1 be utterly destroyed; a protest may reasonably be urged, that
future, receive he protection that will frustrate such an end. Norfolk has already lost several o f its
birds; that the Grebe is not yet enumerated among those which are extinct is a matter o f some
tulation, but at be same time o f apprehension for its speedy destruction. Independently o f Norfolk,
and the fens ot Lincolnshire, there are other parts o f England where the Crested Grebes take i
summer resideii :e. The extensive sheets o f water in Cheshire, in Staffordshire, and Shropshire ar
tenanted by the! i ; and one, two, or more pairs generally rear their young in such localities.
I have now sp »ken o f some o f the places in the British Islands which form a summer home for the
Grebe. Indepen iently o f these there are many others, particularly in our midland counties; and from (
to the Hebrides ' it occurs at one or other season of the year. As a matter of course, in the Emer
with its extensive waters, this bird is also found, but in much less abundance than in England.
In Holland, Gi trmany, and Switzerland it is extremely numerous. Northward it at least extends to
and Norway, spreads over the countries o f Europe generally, occurs in Africa from north ; > *• *«th. mu
found in India (p ’obably throughout the peninsula), and eastwardly from the Caucasus to . . •
I>r. Richardson slates that it breeds in the North American fur-countries, and we have v :^U' <
si*-'. &h*¥h1 throughout the whole o f the United States. In Australia it is Iw >
f«*wrtv allied hut distinct »pec«* to which I have given the name o f PorUc?;* omtrtrfm.
Saffici
During '
begiriMg
Mlt, ! thipHc,
/inter i! lap
I o f ApiM'lfc
I I P
nedc w t assume« ; |after the ihra
rest of the body, j Its power? £ri* Ihrated
insects, Moftnsca, and other aoim#**. ayah mfM rm&i
weeds, which ftosi tin the surface of <:«?■■ mere: aod It« - • '<■
and o f a stone-wlihje colour. Whew newly hatched, ifhesg- is
singular appearamte, with their painted fact's and striped boiiu-*.
instinct and agility are astonishing. Or. the dav fhev emerge fr<
ripple, or dive beo|eath the surface, if ¡my «¡auger warn th
like young Cygnets* scramble on the hack o f the mother, who i
and, if necessary to alvoid danger, will dive with them beneath
Grebe to do.
*' Since 1851,” says Mr. Stevenson, “ up to which time the bir
sea, and other' brotids, scarcely more than a single pair have beei
at Rooworth, Hoveton, where every care is taken to prevent
summer months.” This gentleman adds, “ I have had many oi
first arrival in spring, when they occasionally rise on the wing a
flight, before settling again over some distant pan o f the wate
dive off their nests with the least possible motion of the reeds, •
* skout in the sunshn«
i surface, as I have
ras always umjww*e»* tu»
nowu to breed there,
«destation, the* are m