178 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



230. MERGUS MERGANSER,, Linnseus. The Goosan- 

 der. 



Provincial. Sawbill. 



This beautiful species, a winter visitant to this dis- 

 trict, is met with in small numbers (principally, how- 

 ever, immature birds), but is more common in some 

 seasons than others. It was especially abundant 

 in the severe winters of 1864-65, 1869-70, 1870-71. 



They not unfrequently occur near Beverley, in the 

 winter, visiting the river Hull in small flocks. In 

 the ' Zoologist ' for 1870, p. 2143, Mr. Boyes has 

 recorded an adult male and two adult females, besides 

 about twelve immature birds shot on this river 

 in February. It was also plentiful in the same 

 locality, in the winter of 1870-71, when several fine 

 old males were shot, and more of them seen. 



A magnificent male, one of a pair, which I shot 

 some years since in the winter, from a corner of the 

 ' ' beck " in this parish, disgorged two trout, perfectly 

 fresh and clean, and evidently only just swallowed 

 one measuring seven, the other about five inches in 

 length. 



NATATOEE8. COLYMHIDM. 



231. PODICEPS CRISTATUS (Linnaeus) . Great 

 Crested Grebe. 



Provincial. Gaunt. 



Formerly abundant, breeding in the fens of Lincoln- 



