189 



PIGMY. (IMMATURE). 

 Case 283. 



Large flocks of immature birds are occasionally 

 met with in suitable localities during autumn all 

 round our coasts. 



The Nook at Rye Harbour on the Sussex 

 coast was formerly one of their most favourite 

 feeding grounds ; grass marshes however were 

 preferred by the owners of the land to sea-water 

 mud banks, and a wall having been built the tide 

 was at last successfully kept back. I happened 

 the first autumn after the alteration to be present 

 when a large mixed flock of Pigmies and Stints 

 after wheeling round two or three times settled 

 down among the sheep which were now the 

 occupants of their former quarters ; after running 

 about in the grass for a time apparently bewildered 

 by the alteration that had taken place in the nature 

 of the soil, they at last became acquainted with the 

 state of affairs, and uttering a shrill cry the whole 

 flock took wing, evidently disgusted with the trans- 

 formation that had been effected. 



The specimens were obtained at Eye in Sussex 

 in September, 1858. 



LITTLE GREBE. (SUMMER). 

 Case 284. 



This small diver is plentiful in Great Britain, 

 being found during summer from north to south. 

 I have seen as many as three or four pairs engaged 

 with their broods on some of the smaller lochs in 

 Ross-shire and have also met with them in both 

 Sutherland and Caithness. In England it may be 

 said to occur in almost every county; it is however 

 strange that in the larger broads in Norfolk, where 

 there are endless reed-beds and swamps apparently 

 adapted to its habits the bird is by no means 

 common. 



