408 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



loch shifting in circles and chasing each other, accompanying all 

 their gambols with their shrill intercourse about their future move- 

 ments. Writing from Ardrishaig, Mr Graham says : " Last year I 

 observed this bird here in March. A considerable number 

 remained in the loch during the last week of the month, bad 

 weather having retarded their progress. Although going in small 

 parties, they had evidently paired, the couples keeping close 

 together, so close indeed that I got two specimens at one shot. 

 They were in full summer dress, and a very striking and beautiful 

 combination it is of buff, black, and white, the largely developed 

 horns of orange plumes being a very attractive feature, and adding 

 very much to the quaint appearance of the birds. The iris is of a 

 rich ruby red, with an extremely fine exterior thread of white 

 running round it." Sometimes their appearance in Loch Fyne is 

 delayed two or three weeks, according to the weather. They 

 remain generally until the last week of April. * 



A somewhat remarkable feature in connection with this species 

 is given by Mr Yarrell, quoting from Mr Proctor of the Durham 

 Museum, namely, its habit of diving with its unfledged young ones 

 under its wings. " One day during iny sojourn in Iceland," says 

 Mr Proctor, " having observed one of these birds dive from its 

 nest, I placed myself w^ith my gun at my shoulder waiting its re- 

 appearance. As soon as it emerged, I fired, and killed it. and was 

 surprised to see two young ones, which it seems had been con- 

 cealed beneath the wings of the parent bird, drop upon the water. 

 I afterwards shot several other birds of this species, all of which 

 dived with their young ones under their wings. The young were 

 placed with their heads towards the tail and their bills resting on 

 the back of the parent bird." 



I have had this species sent to me from North Uist by my very 

 obliging friend, Mr Alexander A. Carmichael, who procured it 

 near Lochmaddy in the month of March. 



* Since this account was written, I have been informed by Dr J. A. Smith 

 of Edinburgh, that a pair of Sclavonian Grebes, male and female, were shot on 

 the loch of Killisport, Argyllshire, on 20th June, 1860, and exhibited at a 

 meeting of the Royal Physical Society. " From the season of the year," 

 Dr Smith adds, " and from the locality to which they seemed attached, they 

 were considered as probably rearing a brood of young, although the species 

 has not yet been known to breed in Scotland." 



