178 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



others subsequently, notably in 1870. In this year 

 "the sudden and severe frost of mid-February," as 

 the Rev. M. A. Mathew points out, " sent a number 

 of Grebes to the tidal rivers of all parts of the 

 coast. The Sclavonian and Red-necked Grebes 

 occurred abundantly during the latter part of 

 February and beginning of March, along the whole 

 seaboard of the S.W. Peninsular of England " (Zool. 

 1871. p. 2437). Mr. D' Urban contributes an 

 interesting account of this Grebe in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Exe. An immature bird was shot near 

 Topsham in 1850, and entered the collection of 

 Mr. Ross, in which it subsequently passed into the 

 Exeter Museum. In December 1852, two 

 frequented a flooded marsh near Topsham for a 

 week, when one was shot and proved to be 

 immature. Mr. J. T. Drake shot another off 

 Starcross, in the estuary of the Exe, January 8th, 

 1881 (Zool. 1881. p. 58). During the immigration 

 of 1870, specimens were shot on the Teignmouth 

 coast, and on the Taw in North Devon. 



SCLAVONIAN G'R^BE.—Podicipes auritus (Linn). 



A WINTER visitant; "A species which has become 

 scarce of late years, but was formerly often seen in 

 our bays and estuaries during severe weather" 

 (Gatcombe, Zool. 1879. p. 115). It has occurred 

 on Slapton Ley, and appears to be met with pretty 

 regularly in Torbay. It also visits the estuary of 



