if. a Coot’s or Water-hen’s nest be not tenanted by its owner, it usually supplies free quarters to a Water-
Snake.” (Ibis, vol. ii. p. 159.)

Thus it will be seen that Northern Africa is the
s, Oriental Russia, Siberia, and China, as
The reader will now be able to form his own ju
tain, though not unfrequent. In its winter dress it
at all times be distinguished from that bird by its

great stronghold of this species. It also occurs in Asia
proved by its being enumerated in Mr. Swinhoe’s

Minor, the Caucasu
Li tm Bi 1s of Amoy.’ dgment as to the countries this

‘List of the birds of Amoy.

bird frequents. In England and Ireland its visits are uncer

h resembles the Sclavonian Grebe ; but it may

very muc :
vature of the bill. In their summer dress they are so very

more diminutive size, and by the upward cur a oe i
i 79 Plates hich tt g -epresented will be sufficient to show that they
different that a glance at the two Plates on which they are rej \

are quite distinct.
Mr. Gatcombe, of Plymouth, to whom I am

birds, informs me that he has killed immature b a
I find also among my MSS. a note from Mr. Robert Rising, of Yarmouth in Norfolk.

Leadbeater. It relates to a very fine adult example in
lof August 1863, and is as follows :—* The

indebted for many interesting notes respecting our native
‘rds near that town, and, many years since, an old male in

full summer plumage.
This note was kindly placed at my disposal by Mr.
full dress which had been sent to him to be mounted, near the enc
Grebe was killed on Horsey Mere, on the 6th of May last, with two other
ing. These birds (two males and two females) had been seen continually oe the mere through the winter
and up to the very time they were shot, and would most likely Hae heen falllon long before, had they not
been luckily mistaken for Dabchicks. I much regret that I did not give instructions for the reeds and shores
ched after the birds were killed, as I can scarcely resist the conviction that

s, and a fourth on the day follow-

round the mere to be well sear
they had already nested there, as the water had become so entirely their habitat during all this time.”

Mr. Stevenson, of Norwich, states that, ‘ the habits of this species appear to be almost exactly the reverse
of the Sclavonian, being frequently obtaimed in its summer plumage during April and May, but rarely met
with in its winter dress; indeed a single bird shot at Lynn, in November 1857, is the only record, in my
notes for the last twelve years, of its appearance at the latter season. Messrs. Gurney and Fisher, writing
in 1846, observe, ‘In the month of April last no less than five specimens of the Eared Grebe were killed
within a week at Wroxham and other places in the county ; and it is somewhat remarkable that these have
all proved, upon dissection, to be male birds.’ A fine specimen, in full breeding-plumage, was shot at Sutton
in April 1849; and in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1851 (pp. 3116, 3175) I find two notices of Eared Grebes, from
the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, being purchased in the London markets. The first, killed on the 14th
of April of that year, was sent up to London with some Crested Grebes; and a fine male and female,
shot on the 17th, were purchased by a London dealer, who also received another pair in May 1852 from
the same locality; and the females in both instances contained eggs, about the size of small marbles. In
1854, about the 18th of May, a very beautiful specimen was killed at either Burgh or Filby, which is now
in the collection of the Rev. C. Lucas. In 1861 a pair, assuming summer plumage, were shot at Kimberley,
the seat of Lord Wodehouse, on the 30th of March, and on the 24th of April of the same year a perfect
example at Martham, and one in half change on Hickling Broad. The following summer, however, was
even more remarkable for the number of these birds obtained in full summer plumage. One of these
females is said to have contained a quantity of eggs; and there is little doubt, from their late appearance
on our broads in summer, that this Grebe, like the Sclavonian, would occasionally remain to breed if
undisturbed ; but unfortunately, though little observed in the sombre garb of winter, the very brilliancy of
their nuptial plumage ensures instant persecution.”

In summer the adult male has the head and neck black; from behind the eye, spreading over the
ear-coverts, a triangular patch of silky light-chestnut-coloured feathers ; all the upper surface and wings
dark brown ; the secondaries white, but scarcely perceptible when the wing is closed; breast and under
surface shining silvery white; flanks chestnut; bill black; irides and eyelash red; legs dark green
externally, lighter within.

In winter the crown of the head is dark brown, the other parts of the head and chin pure white ; back of
the neck and upper surface dark brown.

The Plate represents a male and a female of the size of life. The plant is the Flowering Rush (Butomus
umbellatus ). ;