BLACK-NECKED OR EARED GREBE. 251 



and thence some records of the appearance of either 

 species may be uncertain ; but, as has often been 

 pointed out, the black-necked grebe may be readily 

 distinguished at any season by the slight upward 

 curve of its bill, which is also sharper at the tip 

 than that of the Sclavonian grebe. Another and per- 

 haps even more conspicuous difference is to be found at 

 all seasons in the disposal of the white feathers in the 

 wing ; the Sclavonian grebe has only the nine second- 

 aries white, whereas, in the eared grebe, not only the 

 secondaries but also the four inner primaries are more 

 or less white. Unlike the Sclavonian grebe, which is 

 essentially a bird of the north, the black-necked grebe 

 has a decidedly southern habitat, and consequently occurs 

 with us much more frequently in the early summer 

 than in the winter months, many having been met with 

 in April and May in full breeding plumage, whereas, in 

 its winter dress, it is exceedingly rare, and the single 

 example mentioned below as having been obtained in 

 December, must be regarded as a very exceptional 

 occurrence. 



Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear ("Norfolk and Suf- 

 folk Birds ") say, " We received a specimen of this bird 

 from Yarmouth in the autumn of 1817. It was caught 

 alive, and was remarkably tame, pluming itself with great 

 composure soon after it was taken. ^ Mr. Sabine had 

 likewise a bird of this species, which was also sent him 

 from the same place." In the catalogue before referred 

 to, Hunt gives the following additional information with 

 regard to this bird: — "A beautiful specimen of this 

 species was taken from among the rushes by a spaniel 

 belonging to the late Eev. Wm. Whitear ;" and in the 

 same author's " British Ornithology " he states that " the 

 portrait of this elegant species was taken from a beautiful 

 sj)ecimen presented by the Eev. Wm. Whitear, of 

 Starston. It was taken by a water dog in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Yarmouth." Mr. Whitear also mentions 

 the same bird in his diary (Of. " Trans. N. and N. Nat. 



* This curious tameness has been more than once exhibited by 

 the Sclavonian, as also by the little grebe, 



2l2 



