l^A. Scott o// tlic Birds of yamaicu. [October 



uai V, 1891. It is an adult female, No. 10574 of my catalogue, and is in 

 almost full plumage. The bird was in company with a large number of 

 Colymbus dominicus Linn. 



The following in regard to this individual I copy from my field notes : 

 "Priestmans River, 23d January, 1S91. Secured today an adult female 

 (10574) in full plumage, but much browner beneath than individuals from 

 the United States. The ovaries are so much developed that I am inclined 

 to believe that the species would soon have bred at this point." 



From Mr. Taylor's notes I quote as follows : "On the Rio Cobre and 

 Hunt Bay Rivers, as well as many of the larger canals that flow from 

 them, this species is of common occurrence. During December, 1S85, I 

 visited the 'Dam' or head works of the Rio Cobre Irrigation Canal, 

 situated on the road to the north side of the island, at a point about four 

 and a half miles above Spanish Town. On the large sheet of water 

 termed the Dam, above the main intake, Grebes were numerous, swim- 

 ming and feeding with Gallinules among the thick growth of surface 

 weeds. I walked out along the viaduct on the river near where a few 

 Grebes were swimming. They did not appear much alarmed, nor swim 

 away, but if looked at intently for any time they submerged their bodies, 

 sinkin"- as they rested on the water, just as if they had been gently pulled 

 under by the legs. I watched two or three dive and was surprised at the 

 incredible length of time they remained under. Six eggs from this local- 

 ity, taken on 14th July, 188S, show various stages of incubation. Some 

 of the c'^'s are covered with small excrescences where the chalky cover- 

 inof appears unusually thick." 



2. Colymbus dominicensis Linn. Diver. — A common resident spe- 

 cies in the small fresh water ponds of the Parish of Portland, and said to 

 be plentiful in suitable localities throughout the island. 



Piiilip Henry Gosse, Esq., says in his 'Birds of Jamaica,' page 440 : "The 

 ponds of the cattle-pens are the favorite resorts of this little Grebe." The 

 cattle-pens of Jamaica, it may be explained, are estates given up to the 

 breeding of cattle and to dairy purposes. The large open pastures, often 

 manv iiundred acres in area, generally include shallow fresh water ponds 

 ofvarvin"' extent, and such sheets of water are the localities most aftected 

 by this species. Mr. Gosse found nests with four eggs in August, but as 

 the birds bad almost assumed their full breeding plumage in January, I 

 conclude that the record of iVugust nesting must be that of a second 

 brood. 



At Priestmans River, January 7, 1S91, I found this a rather common 

 species, apparently mated. A male taken in full plumage had the testes 

 as large as the largest size of buckshot. Kx. the same locality, 20th January, 

 1S91, a male tak^n (No. 10485) is apparently in the plumage of the first 

 year. No black about the throat and generally much lighter throughout 

 in color than birds in full plumage. The testes were elongated in this 

 individual, being about a third of an inch in length and one eighth of an 

 inch in their smaller diameter. The irides were dull greenish yellow. At the 

 same locality, 23d January, 1S91, I took four individuals in a shallow pond, 



