This bird may usually be seen swimming about in the centre of the open water, its long neck and low flat back enabling it to be easily recognised. It flies well and strongly, appearing when on the wing rather like a Duck. In winter it is dark brown above and white below, but in spring it assumes a chestnut tippet which surrounds the face; the crown of the head is dark brown, the cheeks and a stripe over the eye white. The female is rather duller but otherwise resembles the male. The young in their first plumage are much like the adults in winter. Length 21 in.; wing 7·5 in. THE RED-NECKED GREBE Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert) On the east coast of England this species is not uncommon during the winter months, and in some seasons becomes quite abundant. Elsewhere in our area it is decidedly rare, and not more than five or six examples are recorded from Ireland. It is plentiful in the south of Scandinavia, the Baltic, and North Russia, whence it migrates southwards throughout Europe in the winter. In habits and food it does not appreciably differ from the preceding species. The crown and nape are blackish, upper parts dark brown with a white patch on the secondaries. Cheeks, chin, and throat grey; neck rich chestnut red; rest of under parts white. Length 18 in.; wing 7 in. [Illustration: GREAT CRESTED GREBE _Podicipes cristatus_ Adult, summer (right). Young (left)] THE SLAVONIAN OR HORNED GREBE Podicipes auritus (Linnæus) This is a northern species, breeding in Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia, which visits our shores, especially in the east, annually, and in the north of Scotland it is quite common. Ireland is also regularly visited on migration every year. In summer the upper parts are dark brown; the crown, forehead, chin, and tippet black, and a tuft of elongated feathers on each side of the head chestnut. Secondaries white, _except the three outer ones, which are dusky like the primaries_; neck, breast, and flanks warm chestnut; belly white. In winter the crest is absent; the under parts are white. The young resemble their parents in winter dress. Length 13·5 in.; wing 5·5 in. THE BLACK-NECKED OR EARED GREBE Podicipes nigricollis, C. L. Brehm Unlike the preceding species, this is a southern Grebe, stragglers of which are occasionally met with most frequently in spring, and there is evidence that it may have nested with us on more than one occasion. To Scotland and Ireland it is a very rare wanderer.