124 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



LITTLE GEEBE. Podicep? fluviatilis, (Tanstall). 



YarreU, iv. p. 137; Dresser, viii. p. 659; Podiceps minor, 

 Harting, p. 70 ; Seeholim, iii, p. 468 ; Tacliybaptes fluviatilis, 

 Ibis List, p. 204 ; Colymbus auritus /3, Pultenex/s List, 

 p. 17. 



The Little Grebe, "Dabchick," and "Didapper," 

 the smallest of the genus, frequents our rivers and 

 ponds, moving towards the sea as w^inter approaches. 

 It breeds at Littlesea and on the Wareham river. 

 During severe weather these little birds get frozen 

 out of the rivers, and then collect in numbers about 

 the unfrozen channels of the harbours, and round 

 the shores of Studland Bay. 



[PIED-BILLED GEEBE. Podihjmhus podiceps, (L.) 



Proc. Zool. Sot:, 188 1, p. 734; Zoologist, 1881, p. 334; Ibis 

 List, p. 205. 



At a meeting of the Zoological Society in June 

 1 88 1, an immature specimen of this American bird 

 was exhibited by Mr. K. B. Sharpe (P. Z. S., iSSi, 

 p. 734) as having occurred the previous winter at 

 Eadipole, near Weymouth ; but for reasons stated 

 (Zoologist, 1 88 1, p. 334) this is extremely doubtful. 

 The species is common in North, Central, and South 

 America, but has not been found in Europe. More- 

 over, the immature appearance of the specimen in 

 question seemed to preclude the possibility of its 

 having reached this country otherwise than in a 

 preserved state.] 



