NOTES 265 



cristatus cristati/s), we have, for some time, been on the outlook for 

 its arrival on Kilconquhar Loch. Although we have several times 

 seen this species on the loch, outside the breeding season, this is the 

 first year that it has remained and nested there. At least two and 

 possibly three pairs established themselves on the loch, and we saw 

 the birds and their young on several occasions. This is the first 

 record of Great Crested Grebes nesting in East Fife, though they 

 have bred for some time in the west. What struck us as rather an 

 interesting instance of belated display was seen by us on i8th 

 August. When nearing the edge of Kilconquhar Loch we heard a 

 most extraordinary grunting call-note, and creeping forward behind 

 a screen of reeds saw three Great Crested Grebes close to the edge 

 of the loch. The birds were lying on the water, with their beaks 

 and necks outstretched, and laid flat on the surface, their occipital 

 tufts laid back, and their ruffs drawn close in and down so that they 

 seemed to meet under their chins ; while first one and then another 

 uttered this extraordinary note. They occasionally drew themselves 

 up to their full height, holding themselves stiffly, with their bills 

 pointing straight down to the water ; frequently, they interrupted 

 this display by diving. As far as we could see, they were still 

 in full summer plumage, and one of them was accompanied by two 

 large stripey young. The spring display of the Great Crested Grebe 

 has been fully described and illustrated by Mr JuUan S. Huxley 

 {Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 491), and it would appear to be a modified form 

 of this which we saw in August Although we have frequently seen 

 autumn displays of eider and other birds, we have never before had 

 an opportunity of witnessing this in the Great Crested Grebe, and 

 the late date and presence of the young struck us as interesting. — 

 Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora J. Rintoul, Largo. 



Continental Redbreast and Lesser Black-backed Gull in 

 Fife. — On 24th April, at the mouth of the Cambo l)urn, we saw a 

 Continental Redbreast {Erithacus riihecitla rubeaila). It was very 

 wild, and hid in holes and under overhanging banks, as was the habit 

 of the Continental Robins we have seen on the Isle of May. Its 

 pale breast and excessive wildness were in marked contrast to the 

 ruddy hue and confiding disposition of our British bird. This is 

 the first record of the occurrence of the typical form in the Tay Area. 

 In Largo Bay on 9th July we saw four or five British Lesser Black- 

 backed Gulls {Larus fuscus brita?inicus) standing together, and with 

 them, a Lesser Black-backed Gull with coal-black mantle, 

 undoubtedly a specimen of Lathis fuscus fuscus. — Evelyn V. 

 Baxter and Leonora J. Rintoul, Largo. 



