COLYMBID.^. 133 



were In the summer dress. Another specimen, in very 

 fair plumage, was killed on 17th January, 1861, on 

 a quiet pool known as Charley TuU's pool just below 

 the Windsor weir on the Thames. This bird was 

 shot by Mr. H. Taylor, and is now in the possession of 

 Mr. Harding, of Eton. A birdstuffer at Windsor, by 

 name Hall, was driving by the Victoria Bridge, on the 

 Thames, in the early part of 1858, and observed a 

 Sclavonian Grebe on the wing ; wishing to obtain it 

 for his collection, and not knowing at the time what 

 bird it was, he went home and returned in about half 

 an hour with his gun. He then saw the bird swim- 

 ming about in the middle of the river, and was about 

 to shoot it, when his brother, who had accompanied 

 him, advised him to send in his retriever to endeavour 

 to catch it, or make it rise, and thus get a better 

 shot. The dog accordingly went in and swam up to 

 the Grebe, which, curiously enough, did not attempt 

 to escape by flying or diving, but allowed itself to be 

 caught and brought to land. It was then found to be 

 a fine male Sclavonian Grebe. It is still, I believe, in 

 Mr. Hall's possession. 



With respect to the present species, Mr. Sharpe 

 writes to me as follows : — 



*My friend Charles Venables, Esq. bought a nice 

 specimen of the Sclavonian Grebe, which had been 

 shot in the winter of 1865. It was procured by a 

 man named Godden, close to Cookham Bridge, and 

 is still in the possession of Mr. Venables.' 



