222 COLYMBIDIN^E. 



shore. One of its most favourite haunts in the neighbourhood 

 of Dublin is along the Liffey between Palmer stown and 

 Lucan, where in summer it breeds under the sheltered 

 aquatic herbage afforded by the banks. We have also ob- 

 served pairs during summer frequenting the delightful scenery 

 of the Boyne, between Slane and Beauparc, where they ap- 

 pear wild and easily alarmed, from the boatmen passing on 

 the neighbouring canal pelting them with clods of turf. 



Several instances of this interesting little bird in confine- 

 ment have come under our notice, two specimens, which were 

 for a short time in the possession of Mr. Glennon, and one in 

 our possession, purchased from a fisherman who entangled it 

 in his net, afforded the greatest amusement by its curious 

 habits. Becoming in a short time very tame, when placed 

 upon a tub of water it dived, and disported itself as well as 

 its limits permitted, and captured, without any exertion, the 

 minnow which had been placed for its food, at last becoming 

 so familiar as to look upward when the fish was suspended 

 by the tail, and diving after it when it entered the water ; 

 when lifted out it paddled along the floor in the most amusing 

 manner, after every few feet traversed squatting down to rest ; 

 no way timid when placed on the breakfast table, it never 

 attempted to move until taken away to enjoy its morning 

 bath. Leaving shortly after for England, and fearing some 

 casualty might happen to our amusing pet, we presented it to 

 Dr. Ball, for the Zoological Garden, Phoenix Park. 



With the little grebe we seldom observe any feathers in the 

 contents of the stomach, like those of the preceding species ; 

 in the stomach of one, presented by a friend, we found as 

 many as five perfect specimens of the shell Paludina tentacu- 

 lata (P. impura, Lam.) 



Very common on the lakes in the county of Mayo, several 

 ornithological friends have been considerably amused by ob- 

 serving its habits in localities* where, although not molested 

 by man, its powers of eluding attention are exerted to the 

 utmost in evading the clutches of its determined pursuer, the 

 hen-harrier. This hawk has been repeatedly observed skim- 

 ming along close to the water, and attentively watching the 

 appearance of one of these birds, which it no sooner does than, 

 approaching as near as possible, it stoops downwards to the 

 place where the dabchick has just dived to avoid its enemy ; 

 still fancying the bird there, the legs of the hen-harrier are 

 often lowered in the water as far as the tarsi, after which it 



* Talbot Jones, Esq. 



