180 BIRDS OF THE HUMBEE DISTRICT. 



most numerous of the Grebes visiting the Humber. 

 It occurs in the autumn in small flocks,, usually in 

 the winter or "Dusky-Grebe" plumage, and in some 

 years is rather numerous on the river. My friend, 

 P. K. Seddon, Esq., informs me that in October 1869, 

 when "laid to" near the mouth of the Humber, 

 during a dense fog, he saw several of these Grebes 

 diving in the vicinity of his yacht. It has been 

 sometimes obtained in the Norfolk broads in full 

 breeding-dress. I have never, however, met with 

 it in this district otherwise than in winter plumage*. 



234. PODICEPS AURITUS (Linnaeus) . The Eared 

 Grebe. 



This Grebe, like its congeners, once bred in our fens. 

 It now only occurs as a very rare and occasional 

 visitant Mr. Boulton had a splendid old male in his 

 collection, shot some years since near Selby ; also 

 another, an immature female, shot on the river Hum- 

 ber, near Hull (Zoologist, 1864, p. 9048). 



235. PODICEPS MINOR (Gmelin). Little Grebe, or 

 Dabchick. 



Tolerably numerous, nesting annually with us, 



former locality, but is still tolerably numerous on the Cheshire 

 and Shropshire meres. 



* Colonel Montagu, writing of this Grebe under the name 

 of the Dusky Grebe (Podiceps obscurus) says "it inhabits the 

 tens of Lincolnshire, where it breeds, making a nest in the 

 same manner as the Crested Grebe." 



