Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ivih. (19 14), At?. 9. 25 



ages may be seen throughout the summer ; we saw birds 

 still feeding young on October nth in 1908, but this was 

 exceptionally late. In September and October there are 

 often a large number of Grebes on the water, a score 

 being not unusual, but in November and December the 

 numbers fall off, probably many of the younger birds 

 leaving. In January and February there is frequently an 

 increase ; in the latter month and in March twenty, or 

 even more, is not an unusual number. It is difficult to 

 estimate the number of pairs which nest in the extensive 

 reed-beds, but probably an average of half-a-dozen pairs 

 is a low estimate. On April ist, 191 2, there were at 

 least nine pairs. 



The Black- 

 Colyvibus nigricollis nigricollis (Brehm). necked Grebe 



has occurred 

 on Rostherne. In February and March, 1912, two fre- 

 quented the water for several weeks ; we noticed them 

 first, when both were in winter dress, on P'ebruary i8th, 

 and one remained until March 31st, by which time it had 

 attained almost complete nuptial dress. About a week 

 after we missed the birds from Rostherne two were 

 noticed on Marbury, and their plumages agreed with those 

 of the two Rostherne birds when we last saw them. We 

 watched them from time to time on Marbury but missed 

 them after April 26th, by which time both were in full 

 breeding plumage. 



The Little Grebe 

 Colyvibus nificollis ruficollis Pallas, or Dabchick is 



a common re- 

 sident, nesting like its larger relative in the reed-beds. 

 It may be met with on all parts of the mere, but is 

 perhaps most abundant at the southern end and it 

 frequently feeds in Blackburn's Brook, where we have on 



