LITTLE GREBE. 747 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote : — 



Podiceps minor. — Little Grebe — Common near Hebden Bridge and 

 Doncaster ; occasionally met with near Halifax ; uncommon in the 

 vicinity of Sheffield ; not uncommon about Barnsley and Huddersfield, 

 where it stays through the year ; not infrequent near Leeds and 

 York. A. Strickland says, "It is by no means uncommon in this 

 county, and probably breeds in various parts of it, and it is often found 

 in winter." 



The Little Grebe, or Dabchick, is resident, and the most 

 numerous of the genus, being found in the breeding season 

 in most parts of the county where there are secluded ponds, 

 lakes, and streams which afford the concealment requisite 

 for its nest ; it is known to breed at Malham Tarn at an 

 elevation of 1,250 feet. An early allusion to its haunts in 

 Wensleydale was made by W.G. Barker, who stated that "near 

 East Witton, on the banks of the Yore, is a fish-pond where 

 Dabchicks are plentiful " ("Loudon's Magazine," 1832). From 

 twelve to thirty of these birds have been observed on Hems- 

 worth Dam in spring, before the reeds grew up ; in the East 

 Riding many nest aimually on the Drifheld streams, and in 

 South Holderness it was formerly plentiful enough to have a 

 local name. 



In the autumn, from September to November, there is an 

 influx of immigrants on the coast, sometimes in considerable 

 numbers, and examples have been killed by striking against 

 the Lighthouses on dark nights ; on i6th October 1891, during 

 a south-west gale, one took refuge in Redcar Station, where 

 it was captured by the Company's policeman, who brought 

 it to me ; I have occasionally observed specimens in the 

 Tees estuary, and, on 8th November 1905, I saw a party of 

 seven on the sea off Redcar ; the species has also been noticed 

 on migration in the Beverley district. There is but one 

 example in breeding plumage reported on the coast ; this 

 was caught near Redcar Pier in June. 



An interesting account of the nidification habits of the 

 Little Grebe is related by Mr. J. W. Dent of Ribston Hall, 

 near Harrogate, who, in the spring of 1896, noted a pair 

 on a pond near his house, which had a late brood in September, 



