COLYMBID^E. 525 



has also one in his collection, which was shot on the 

 river at Ninehead, on the 20th of March, 1826. The 

 Kev. Murray A. Mathew also informs me that a 

 specimen of an immature bird came under his notice 

 at Weston-super-Mare. These are all the Somer- 

 setshire specimens I have at present been able to 

 hear of. 



Although this species is at present resident and 

 breeds in many counties in England, it will in all 

 probability soon cease to do so if the ladies continue 

 their present ruthless persecution of these birds for 

 ornaments for their hats and muffs a persecution 

 which, if persevered in to its present extent, will 

 soon make not only the Grebes but many of our 

 rarer and more interesting birds perfectly extinct. 



The nest, according to Montagu, is large, and 

 composed of a variety of aquatic plants : it is not 

 attached to anything, but floats amongst the reeds 

 and flags, penetrated by the water.* Yarrell says 

 the parent birds are very careful of their young, 

 taking them down with them when they dive. They 

 are very expert at diving, which they practice both 

 for the purpose of obtaining food and avoiding 

 danger : so quick are they at it when conscious of 

 danger that it is very difficult to get a shot at one of 

 them. They do not make a sort of jump out of the 

 water to turn their heads down, as the Shags and 



* Montagu's Dictionary, by Newman. 



