The note of this species is a soft whistling bib bib, and
during the breeding season like bide wide wide wide wide
uttered quickly. In the stomachs of some examples recorded
by Thompson, were quantities of feathers from different
parts of their bodies, large specimens of the doubly-
spotted goby, a number of common shrimps (Crangon
vulgaris), and of opossum shrimps (Mysis), and remains of
coleopterous insects. The bird usually seeks safety by
diving, but it has been known to rise and fly readily. Mr.
Gatcombe informs the Editor that he has observed both the
Eared and Sclavonian Grebes to dive with a leap when in
deep water, as a Shag does ; apparently to give an impetus
to aid their small and comparatively light bodies in reaching
the bottom, or to make head against a current.
The adult male in summer has the beak black; the irides
red, with a white circle; head and neck, all round, nearly
black; chin speckled with grey; from behind the eye over
the ear-coverts a triangular patch of long hair-like golden
and reddish-chestnut feathers ; back, and all the upper surface
of the body, dark brown ; secondary wing-feathers mostly
white ; breast, and under surface of the body, shining silvery-
white ; sides under the wings, and the flanks, chestnut
mixed with dusky lines ; legs and feet greenish-grey above,
darker behind. The whole length is twelve inches. From
the carpal joint to the end of the wing five inches.
Females and young birds in winter so nearly resemble
those of the so-called Dusky Grebe, figured and described
in the account given of the last species, except in size, and
in the form of the beak, as to make another description
unnecessary.
PYGOPODES.
LITTLE GREBE.
PODIOIPEDIDÆ.
PODICEPS FLUVIATILIS (Tuiistall*).
THE LITTLE GREBE, or DABCHICK.
Podiceps minor.
The L ittle Grebe, or Dabchick, as it is more generally
called, is the smallest, as well as the most common, of the
British Grebes. It remains here throughout the whole year,
inhabiting rush-grown lakes or fish-ponds, and the reedy
parts of most rivers during summer, but in winter it is more
frequent on small streams. In some of these situations,
depending on the season, it may be frequently observed
busily engaged on the surface in search of food, or diving to
shelter itself for security if disturbed by too close an ap-
* Colymbus fluviatilis, Tunstall, Orn. Brit. p. 3 (1771). The bill being
shorter than the head, this species has been placed in the genus Tacliybaptes :
an arrangement sanctioned by a majority of the Committee of the British Ornithologists’
Union, but which the Editor deems it inexpedient to adopt in the
present work.
VOL. IV. T