S2 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS 



breeds in the southern part of Sweden, and in Denmark and South Finland, 

 Russia, Germany, and in places adapted to its requirements, down to and on both 

 sides of the Mediterranean. It is only rarely met with on Heligoland. 



Even in the mildest seasons these Grebes do not pass the winter upon their 

 inland breeding haunts in England. In those localities with which I am acquainted 

 they usually take their departure before October is out ; but in one year I saw 

 three Grebes there on the i8th November, and in the mild season of 1891 two 

 were present as late as the 8th December; both these were, I believe, young 

 birds of the year, one certainly was so, as indications of the longitudinal lines on 

 the upper part of the neck were visible. It is probable that some adult birds 

 make their way to the coast at an earlier date than this. On the 6th September, 

 1890, I saw an adult example, still retaining some portions of its summer dress, 

 on the sea, off a pebble beach, on the north coast of Norfolk, and on the iath 

 October, 1887, another in a harbour in the same district. 



During autumn and winter this species is not uncommonly found on many 

 parts of our coasts, but has a tendency to move southwards in the depth of winter, 

 especially if the season should prove a severe one. In Cornwall it is said to be 

 not very uncommon in winter, especially on the marsh pools in the Land's End 

 district. On Devon waters too, it is recorded to be far from rare at that season. 

 On the Dorset coast Mr. Mansel-Pleydell states that it is not uncommon in 

 Portland Roads and at Weymouth ; " flocks," of more than twenty together, have 

 been seen off the Poole coast in November 1882. He adds that " after Christmas 

 they apparently go further south, as they are not so numerous then." At the 

 same time, individuals are not very uncommonly met with during winter on our 

 rivers and inland waters away from the usual breeding haunts, and I have known 

 examples shot in Oxfordshire, on the Thames, in December and January, and on 

 the swampy Otmoor in the latter month. It is not recorded from the Hebrides 

 or the Orkneys, but Saxby met with it once in the Shetlands. In the Lake 

 District it is quite scarce even as a winter visitor. Indeed on our western coasts 

 generally, it is uncommon ; only four occurrences in Somerset are recorded, and 

 it is very seldom obtained upon the coast of mid- Wales. 



The return of the Grebes to their breeding haunts in spring depends in some 

 measure upon the state of the weather. I have known them put in an appearance 

 in Oxfordshire as early as the I2th February; but in 1886 they were delayed on 

 the same water by the severe frost until the 28th March, the ice having broken 

 up only a week before. Some birds pass on. It is possible that these passing 

 visitors may be birds of the previous year, which would not breed until the 

 following season. On the 28th April one year I saw two Grebes on an Oxfordshire 



