ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 181 



it seems to be exactly twenty-nine years since a specimen has been 

 taken in Britain. ROBERT SERVICE, Maxwelltown. 



Nesting of the Great Crested Grebe in Stirlingshire. In 



April 1890 I had three eggs presented to me by a schoolfellow, 

 which he had taken a day or two previously from a nest on a loch 

 in Stirlingshire. These eggs remained unidentified until the other 

 day, when I was informed that they were those of the Great 

 Crested Grebe (Podidpes eristatus), and was invited by the Editors 

 of the " Annals " to place the interesting fact of the nesting of 

 this species in the Forth area on record. HARRY GUMMING, 

 Edinburgh. 



Great Crested Grebe nesting in Fifeshire. While enjoying a 

 country ramble with my friend Mr. Meiklejohn on the igth of May 

 last, our surprise was considerable on coming to a small sheet of 

 water which for various reasons shall be nameless to notice a 

 pair of large Grebes sailing about accompanied by two young ones. 

 We lay down and watched them for some time, and being provided 

 with good glasses, and the birds coming several times within fair 

 distance, there was no mistaking the nuptial crests, and the bright 

 chestnut with dark margin of the nuptial tippet, for anything but 

 those of Podidpes eristatus. I need hardly say it was a surprise, as 

 both my friend and myself are under the impression that the Great 

 Crested Grebe has never before been found nesting in the east of 

 Scotland. ALLAN BRIGGS, St. Andrews. 



Great Crested Grebe breeding in Mid-Fife. With reference 

 to a note which, I understand from Mr. Eagle Clarke, is to appear 

 in the Annals for July, regarding the breeding of the Great Crested 

 Grebe {Podidpes eristatus) in Fife, I would like to state that on two 

 occasions in June 1885 I had excellent views of a magnificent male, 

 and a momentary glance of a female, on a loch in the centre of the 

 county under circumstances which left little doubt in my mind that 

 they were there for nesting purposes, though it was impossible for 

 me to explore thoroughly the immense beds of Arundo, Scirpus, 

 and Equisetum which covered the part of the loch frequented by the 

 birds. The tenant of the adjoining farm told me he had noticed 

 them during the four previous summers. In 1887 three were 

 observed on the loch during the breeding season. I may also say 

 that in August 1887 I examined in the flesh an adult female which 

 was shot on a loch in Forfarshire on the 2nd of the month. 

 WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh. 



Seorpsena daetyloptera in Scottish Waters. A specimen of 

 this richly coloured fish was captured by a Granton trawler on the 

 22nd of March this year ; and another specimen was taken, also by a 

 Granton trawler, on the 3oth of April following. Both were cap- 



