BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 181 



but is always much commoner in the winter months. 

 In the autumn our resident birds receive considerable 

 accessions to their numbers, arriving in October in 

 small parties or flocks. Several have been seen to- 

 gether at this season on the Humber, and even within 

 the large basin of the Royal Dock at Grimsby. 



The little Grebe flies with reluctance, trusting 

 mainly to its wonderful diving-powers to elude an 

 enemy. When once on the wing, as I have had 

 opportunities of judging, their flight is both rapid 

 and well sustained. 



236. COLYMBUS GLACIALIS, Linnaeus. Great 



Northern Diver. 

 Provincial. Loon, Herring-Loon. 



Found every autumn and winter off our shores, 

 generally birds in the immature and winter plumage. 

 The adult in the breeding-dress is far less commonly 

 met with. This fine species is well known to our 

 fishermen as the Herring-Loon ; they keep principally 

 to the open sea, but in very severe weather come 

 occasionally within the river ; and several instances 

 are recorded of their capture far inland. It is men- 

 tioned in Mr. Alington's list of Croxby-pond birds *. 

 Although strictly oceanic in its habits, it will, I have 

 observed, when feeding, often come closer inshore 

 than either the Black- throated or Red- throated Diver. 



* 'Naturalist/ January, 1852. 



