276 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX, 



severe storm. Its stomach contained a mass of feathers (presumably its own) and 

 the remains of small fish (44. ii. Ixxx.)- Mr. Hope, who has one in winter plu- 

 mage, killed near Harwich, describes it as common on the Blackwater. It "is 

 not rare at Mersea in winter" (Laver). The Rev. J. C. Atkinson says (36. 151), 

 " I knew of one instance in Essex some thirty years ago in which one of these birds 

 was taken from a Water Rat's hole, into which it had been seen to creep for 

 shelter." A specimen shot at Walton on Feb. 2nd, 1875, is now in the possession 

 of Mr. Dorling of that place. 



Little Grebe or Dabchick : Tachyhaptesfliiviatilis. (Podiceps 

 minor, Yarrell). Locally, " Dobchick," (pi. " Dobchicken.") 



Resident and widely distributed, but not common, and seldom 

 found breeding except on or near the coast. 



Round Sudbury in 1858, King 

 described it (20) as "common," and 

 Mr, Grubb says (39) it " comes in 

 winter " to his land there. In 1843, 

 Parsons wrote (23. 364) that it was 

 then. 



" a constant resident, either upon 



the small broads or fleets on the 



marshes of this neighbourhood, or 



LITTLE GREBES, 1/9. gf ^j^g creeks and arms of the sea 



intersecting them, keeping during the autumnal and winter months in small flocks 



* * * The nests are placed in the thick water-plants or reeds growing upon the 



sides of the marshy waters." 



He adds some interesting remarks upon their habits. Lieut. Legge found two 

 nests near Shoebury in 1865 (34. 603). A pair (probably breeding) were seen on 

 the lake at Skreens in June, 1877, and a pair were seen on the Chelmer at Broom- 

 field on Dec, 1878, during hard weather. In the summer of 1880, one (doubtless 

 breeding) was killed at Audley End, and during the latter part of Jan. and the 

 greater part of Feb., 1881, a party of ten remained on the Cam close to Audley 

 End. On March 12th, 1882, I saw four on the adjacent brick-ponds. I again 

 saw one at the same place at the end of April, when it was probably breeding, but 

 I could find no nest. To Wanstead Park, Mr. Lister says (40. ix. 64) they " come 

 in the spring and breed, but appear to leave us in late summer." Mr. Buxton 

 says (47. 97) it is " frequently seen in the spring in the lower and open ponds 

 in Wanstead Park, but it is said not to remain to breed. I observed a pair on my 

 own pond in the spring of 1884, and I believe them to have had a nest." Round 

 Orsett, Grays, and Corringham, Mr. Sackett says it is " not uncommon where there 

 is enough water." He informs me of one nest built in a pool of water at the 

 bottom of a chalk-pit at Grays, in which these birds actually bred during 1888, 

 although there was on the north side a lime-kiln and chalk-quarries in active 

 working, on the east a rifle range in almost daily use, on the south a street, and 

 on the west a high road. 



