. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . by others it is saidto differ in its being here a winter visitant only. Mr. Selbyassures us, that he has met with it in Northumberland asfrequently as any other species. We are of opinion thatthe fact of its frequenting salt water by preference, andits peculiar habits, which we shall hereafter mention, combineto keep the bird from the eyes of the more common the eastern countries of Europe, the Red-necked Grebe isfrequently met with on the lakes and largest rivers; inAmerica it is also well known, and was found by Sir John
. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . by others it is saidto differ in its being here a winter visitant only. Mr. Selbyassures us, that he has met with it in Northumberland asfrequently as any other species. We are of opinion thatthe fact of its frequenting salt water by preference, andits peculiar habits, which we shall hereafter mention, combineto keep the bird from the eyes of the more common the eastern countries of Europe, the Red-necked Grebe isfrequently met with on the lakes and largest rivers; inAmerica it is also well known, and was found by Sir JohnFranklin during his expedition in 1822 upon the GreatSlave Lake, and M. Temminck has received specimens fromJapan. In Holland the Red-necked Grebe is found on thelakes, equally so in France, Switzerland, and Italy. The locality frequented by the present species is at alltimes the watery element, and its chief occupation is amongthe thickest mud below its surface; its capacity of diving isvery perfect, as its food is obtained by searching among the PL. 2^. RED-NECKED GREBE. 11 weeds ; it consists of small fish, insects, and their larvae, and,like the foregoing species, feathers from off its own breastand belly are always found in the stomach of specimensthat are examined. The wings of the Red-necked Grebe,like those of several others of its family, are very small inproportion to the size of the bird, and these it does not usewhile in pursuit of food under water, as they would only retardits progress among the thick weeds; but its legs and feet areso formed that they can paddle with them at pleasure in alldirections, as they act more like the fins of fishes than theusual legs and feet of water birds. Although the wings of the Red-necked Grebe are small,the bird gets on very well when it has fairly started andattained a sufficient height in the air; but it is unable to domore than proceed in a straight direction. The present species is not very shy until it has frequentlybeen fire
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidcoloured, booksubjectbirds
