EAEED GREBE. 121 



places in the county. One at Sutton the end of April, 1849. 

 In Durham one near the lighthouse, by the Tees' mouth, 

 12th. of April, 1846. A pair of these birds were shot on 

 a pond by Peperharow Park, near Godalming, Surrey. In 

 Oxfordshire a fine male specimen was shot on Port Meadow, 

 near Oxford, the end of April, 1843. In the month of 

 June, 1847, a specimen was captured on the Isis near 

 Sandford in full summer plumage. The bird has been pro- 

 cured near London, one at Hampstead, and two near 

 Kingsbury, Middlesex, in 1841. One at Duxford; also in 

 Dorsetshire and Sussex. Others have occurred in the winter 

 months. 



In Orkney this Grebe is stated by Mr. Clouston to be 

 not rare. One was shot near Kirkwall in October, 1852* 

 by J. H. Baikie, Esq. 



In Scotland a few specimens have occurred. Robert Gray, 

 Esq., of Glasgow, has sent me notice of one met with at 

 Dunbar. 



In Ireland it is extremely rare, but has occurred in the 

 county of Dublin. 



They dive to perfection, and are equally, 'au fait' at 

 swimming. 



They feed on water-insects and their larvae, tadpoles, 

 young frogs, and water-plants, obtained principally by diving. 



The bird before us builds its nest of and among reeds 

 and rushes, and places it by the edge of a pond. 



The eggs are of a pure white colour, sometimes with and 

 sometimes without a tinge of blue; the surface is rough. 

 They are of a regular oval shape, widest in the middle, and 

 tapering towards each end. Their number, three or four, 

 or, Selby says, four or five. 



Incubation is said by Meyer to last three weeks. 



Male; weight, nineteen ounces; length, one foot to one 

 foot and one inch. The form of the bill readily distinguishes 

 this species. It is gradually bent upwards to the tip which 

 is slightly reflected. The under bill reddish at the base, 

 the tip, and the whole of the upper bill, black; the tip is 

 slightly bent; the base flattened. Iris, rich deep orange red, 

 the eyelids edged with the same colour; behind the eye is 

 a triangular-shaped patch, presently described; forehead, sooty 

 black. The head on the sides has two tufts of long narrow 

 feathers of pale yellow or buff, passing into deep orange 

 chesnut. Crown, neck on the back, and nape, shining 



