RED-NECKED GREBE.

Podiceps rubricollis, Lath.

Le Grebe jou-gris.

Amone the European species of Grebes, the Red-necked is intermediate in size between the Crested Grebe
(Podiceps cristatus) and the Horned Grebe (Podiceps cornutus). From the former it may be distinguished
by the more partial development of the frill, which, with the whole of the cheeks, are of a light grey, and by
the deep chestnut of the front and sides of the neck; while from the latter it differs in having the red streak
passing through the eye to the occiput in the form of horns, as well as by the grey colour of the frill and
cheeks, which in the Podiceps cornutus are black.

In point of rarity, particularly in our own climate, it is on an equal footing with the latter, being only an
accidental visiter, though sometimes probably breeding with us.

In food, habits and manners this rare bird closely agrees with its congeners, inhabiting large inland lakes,
rivers, estuaries, and the borders of the sea. In France and Holland it appears to be almost as scarce as in
this country. It seems to be more common in Germany and Sweden; but its true habitat is the eastern
portion of Europe or the adjacent regions of Asia. It is, however, far from being uncommon in all our
larger collections ; and we have ourselves seen both the young and adult in the London markets.

In their mature plumage, the two sexes offer but little external difference, both, we believe, always losing
the beautiful frill and red colouring of the neck in winter, and regaining them early in the succeeding
spring.

The young bird, when it has attained the full size, as in all this family, is of a greyish brown above, and white
beneath, but may be distinguished by one character from the young of other species, namely, by the yellow
colour of the whole of the lower mandible except at its very tip.

The adult colouring is as follows.

The top of the head, the egrets, the occiput and back of the neck, black ; the back and whole of the upper
surface of a brownish black, with the exception of the secondaries, which are white, so as to form a band
across the wings ; front and sides of the neck deep chestnut ; under surface white ; bill black, except at the
base, which is of a rich orange yellow ; irides scarlet; tarsi and toes dull olive green.

Our Plate represents an adult in the summer plumage, and a bird of the year, of the natural size.