118 P0DICIPED1D.E. 



disturbed, they pass with little or no noise to attract obser- 

 vation. They are mostly seen on the water ; the form of 

 the whole bird being that of an elongated cone, is admirably 

 adapted for diving ; and their habits can only be observed by 

 those who live in the vicinity of their favourite haunts. 



The Great Crested Grebe, the largest of the genus, is 

 resident all the year in several parts of this country, which 

 afford extensive surfaces of water, partly overgrown with 

 reeds and other luxuriant aquatic vegetation, in which they 

 find the required security. Some pairs breed, and remain 

 all the year, or by far the greater part of it, on some of the 

 lakes of Wales, such as Llangorse, in Brecon shire ; on the 

 meres of Shropshire and Cheshire ; on the broads of Nor- 

 folk ; and, previous to drainage, in the fens of Lincoln- 

 shire, where in Pennant's time the birds went by the name 

 of * Gaunts.' In Yorkshire about half a dozen pairs breed 

 regularly at Hornsea Mere. Northwards it becomes rarer, 

 and if seen, it is generally on the coast, when severe 

 weather has frozen the inland sheets of fresh water. Under 

 such circumstances birds in summer plumage are sometimes 

 obtained, but immature examples are far more numerous. 

 These remarks equally apply to Scotland, where as yet it 

 has not been found breeding ; and on the west coast it 

 is decidedly rare at all seasons. As a straggler it has 

 occurred in Shetland. 



In Ireland this species is occasionally obtained in winter 

 on the coast and on the fresh-water lakes ; and in summer 

 it breeds on several of the latter. The liev. G. Robinson 

 has found many nests of this bird on the borders of Lough 

 Neagh, where the name ' Molrooken ' is applied to the bird ; 

 and Major E. A. Butler has furnished the Editor with the 

 following interesting extracts from his notes referring to 

 Portmore Lough, adjoining the former : — 



" 16th May, 1883. A nest containing two fresh eggs, 

 and two more nests with much incubated eggs. 



" 18th May. Same lough, a nest with three fresh eggs. 

 The nests, which are mere pads of wet sedge floating on 

 the surface of the water, were placed a few yards inside 



