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COL¥MBID. HOD 
has also one in his collection, which was shot on the 
river at Ninehead, on the 20th of March, 1826. The 
Rev. Murray A. Mathew also informs me that a 
specimen of an immature bird came under his notice 
at Weston-super-Mare. ‘These are all the Somer- 
setshire specimens I have at present been able to 
hear of. 
Although this species is at present resident and 
breeds in many counties in England, it will in all 
probability soon cease to do so if the ladies continue 
their present ruthless persecution of these birds for 
ornaments for their hats and muffs—a persecution 
which, if persevered in to its present extent, will 
soon make not only the Grebes but many of our 
rarer and more interesting birds perfectly extinct. 
The nest, according to Montagu, is large, and 
composed of a variety of aquatic plants: it is not 
attached to anything, but floats amongst the reeds 
and flags, penetrated by the water.* Yarrell says 
the parent birds are very careful of their young, 
taking them down with them when they dive. They 
are very expert at diving, which they practice both 
for the purpose of obtaining food and avoiding 
danger: so quick are they at it when conscious of 
danger that it is very difficult to get a shot at one of 
them. They do not make a sort of jump out of the 
water to turn their heads down, as the Shags and 
* Montagu’s Dictionary, by Newman. 
