738 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Birds of the Colymbidae family are not subject to great 

 variation ; the only Yorkshire example reported being of 

 this species, and pure white in plumage, with pale yellow legs, 

 feet, and bill ; it is in the collection of Mr. J. Whitaker, 

 who informs me it was shot at Spurn. 



The vernacular names are : — Sprat Loon and Speckled 

 Loon, used in the Humber district, which in the Yorkshire 

 dialect is rendered Leaan at Flamborough, Scarborough, 

 Whitby, and Redcar. To the river Tees fowlers it is known 

 as Sparling Whew ; in the East Riding it receives the cog- 

 nomen of Guinea-bird Diver, from its speckled back being 

 similar to that of a Guinea-fowl, and at Bridlington it is 

 sometimes called by the peculiar name of Sheep's-head-and- 

 pluck, as indicating its resemblance to that portion of a 

 sheep's anatomy. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 

 Podicipes cristatus {L.). 



Resident, breeding irregularly and in limited numbers on protected 

 sheets of water in various localities. Also winter visitant, both inland 

 and on the coast, though not common. 



The first mention of this as a county species is, apparently, 

 that referred to by the celebrated John Ray, who stated that 

 one was sent by Mr. Jessop out of Yorkshire (Ray's " Synopsis,* 

 1713, p. 125). 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Podiceps cristatus. — Great Crested Grebe — Has been obtained once 

 or twice near Sheffield. F. O. Morris reports it to breed near Hornsea ; 

 in the winter plumage it is not infrequent near Sutton-on-Derwent ; 

 in the male summer plumage it is very rare in this district. A. Strick- 

 land states that it breeds at Hornsea Mere, and probably used to be 

 abundant in the Carrs. 



Notwithstanding the persecution to which it has been 

 subjected, this singular looking and beautiful bird is still 

 resident in Yorkshire, though very local and few in numbers, 



