THK GKKAT crested GRKBE in OXFORDSHIRE. 275 



ON THE BEEEDING OF THE GEEAT CEESTED 



GEEBE iPODWEPS CEISTATUS—ljiiiN.] 



IN NOETH OXFOEDSHIEE.- 



]5Y OLIVER V. APLIN. 



Early iu August last (1882), in company with Mr. H. Holbecli, of 

 Farnborough Hall, I paid a visit to Clattercut Reservoir — an extensive 

 piece of water situated in the northern part of this county, not far 

 from its Warwickshire boundary — for the purpose of examining the 

 Great Crested Grebes which he had reported as breeding there. 



This reservoir forms, so to speak, the extremity of a little vale 

 running down to the Cherwell Valley. The ground slopes down to it, 

 therefore, on three sides, aud, as it is enclosed on these three sides with 

 large hedges, and is furnished with reed beds along the banks, 

 especially at the upper end, it forms a favourite resort for our water 

 birds. Moreover, as it is preserved by the tenant of the adjoining 

 lands, it adds security to its other qualifications. 



Approachiug quietly from behind the hedge bordering the upper 

 end we cautiously pushed through a gap, and from the shelter of the 

 reeds and tall herbage eagerly scanned the water. We were at once 

 rewarded by seeing a fine adult example of the object of our search 

 fly out from among some coots aud pitch again farther out on the pool. 

 With the help of a glass we made out two pairs of old birds, and two 

 half-grown young accompanying one pair. On a subsequent visit, 

 after long and patient waiting, I succeeded in making out two more 

 young, nearly full-grown and quite independent of the old ones. When 

 the birds were feeding it was seldom that the whole number could be 

 Been at once, as one or two were nearly always beneath the surface. I 

 found that on an average they stayed under water while one could 

 count seventy or eighty. They would frequently swim along for some 

 distance with the bill and face submerged, the neck being stz-etched 

 out along the surface of the water. Doubtless they were iu search of 

 the small fry of fish. The smaller pair of young kept closely with the 

 old ones, and wei'e frequently fed by them, although able, apparently, 

 to fish for themselves. When undisturbed, the birds carry the neck 

 bent, the head drawn back, and the crest and ruffs depressed ; but on 

 the least alarm the neck is stretched to its full height, and the crest 

 and ruffs are erected, giving the bird an extremely watchful look. 

 One remarkably fine adult male swam quite close in to our place of 

 concealment, and when at length he did catch sight of us he was a 

 picture indeed : the shining white of his breast and neck, the glossy 

 black crest, and rufous tints of the ruffs showed up beautifully iu 

 the sunlight against the water. After favouring us with a decided stare, 

 he turned and swam rapidly out to a safer distance. It has been, 



* Kead before the O.xfordshire Natural History Society, at a meeting held in 

 the University Muscnm, '20tli Octoljcr, 1W2. 



