220 COLYMBIDIKUE. 



SPECIES 212 THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 



Podiceps rubricollis. Latham. 



Grebe jou gris. Temin. 



THE RED-NECKED GREBE, very limited in its occurrence, 

 has only been obtained in four or five instances in different 

 portions of the island, all of which were procured, for the 

 most part, during severe weather, or after the prevalence of 

 easterly winds. 



Two of those coming under our own notice, one in the col- 

 lection of T. W. Warren, Esq., of this city, obtained in Wex- 

 ford, and the other in immature plumage, shot on Sandymount 

 marsh, near Dublin, after some days of intense frost, on 

 the 26th of January, 1848, is preserved in our collection. 

 The irides of this specimen exhibited a curious departure 

 from the prevalent red colour observable in the other grebes, 

 being in the present instance of a bright primrose yellow. On 

 dissection the stomach was found without any of the usual 

 lining of feathers, and contained only a slimy matter of a bril- 

 liant green colour. 



In England this species is also of great rarity, and, as in 

 our island, is only a winter visitant. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 213 THE HORNED GREBE. 



Podiceps cornutus. Selby. 



Grebe cornu. Temm. 



Dusky Grebe. 



THIS beautiful species, in the rich plumage which distin- 

 guishes it during the breeding season, has never been ob- 

 tained in Ireland, its occurrence being limited to its occasional 

 appearance in the unobtrusive garb of winter. Similar to the 

 tippet grebe, we observe the same unsullied whiteness of the 

 plumage of the breast and abdomen, and the contents of 

 the stomach filled in like manner with the feathers of the 

 bird. 



Of considerable rarity, the occurrence of the horned grebe 

 is extremely irregular, many birds appearing during one 

 winter, and a length of time elapsing before they are again 

 observed. Like the red-necked grebe, it is also an attendant 

 upon the rigours and severity of winter, as three specimens 

 purchased by ourselves from the hawkers of wild-fowl, during 



