202 CREiTED GREBE. 



cubation has an imposing appearance, from the rich 

 colouring and ample adornments of the head and 

 neck. Unlike the divers, the larger Grebes have 

 their range to the southward and continue resident 

 in many of the English counties for the whole year, 

 and more particularly in the fenny districts ; to the 

 north of England they become more unfrequent in 

 summer, and although Mr. Heysham has recorded 

 the occurrence of this bird in Cumberland, we have 

 never been so fortunate as to meet \vith it on the 

 border during summer. It may be considered, in- 

 deed there, and in Scotland, rather as a winter 

 visitant, and that in no great abundance. Mr. 

 Thompson says it is resident during the year on 

 the larger Irish lakes. Neither does it seem very 

 abundant in Northern Europe, though it is said 

 to breed in Sweden, * while it is only a winter 

 straggler on the coasts of Norway. Upon the wa- 

 ters of Holland it is not unfrequent, and we once, 

 after a long chase, succeeded with difficulty in 

 shooting one in the vicinity of Rotterdam ; we had 

 the assistance of a sail to our oars, and a fair wind. 

 Out of Europe it has been recorded from Tangiers 

 and Smyrna, t and South Africa, $ and from the 

 latter country we possess a specimen in breeding 

 plumage. It is introduced in the Northern Zoology, 

 and Mr. Audubon writes that it returns from its 

 northern places of residence, and proceeds as far 

 as the Mexican territories, passing through the air 

 in flocks of from seven or eight to fifty and more. 

 * Nilsson. f Yarrcll. Smith. 



