The Zoologist — May, 1868. 1213 



Kittiwake. — Several specimens have been found dead from starva- 

 tion in the fields about Earl-Shilton, which is about the very centre 

 of England. A specimen was shot at the West Bridge, in Leicester, 

 during March. 



Water-fowl at Groby Pool. — Having ridden over to Groby Pool, a 

 sheet of water of about forty acres, with a marsh adjacent (about five 

 miles from Leicester), I had a good opportunity of watching the habits 

 of some of the water-fowl. 1 observed a pair of hooded crows fl}ing 

 over Steward-Hay Wood: this is the latest I have observed this 

 species in the county, as they have mostly all departed for the North 

 by this time. As I cautiously approached the boat-house, several 

 mallards and ducks rose from the sedge, and a heron got up and flew 

 slowly farther up the marsh : herons are uncommon in this county, 

 owing to the absence of water. Five or six pairs of teal got up from 

 the rushes and flew overhead with a curious whistling note, not very 

 unlike the cry of the plover. Having carefully hidden behind the 

 reeds, 1 peeped out over the pool, and was surprised and delighted to 

 see two pairs of beautiful great crested grebes tranquilly floating 

 twenty or thirty yards from me: a pair have visited Groby Pool for 

 the last two or three seasons, as they are strictly preserved. With my 

 glass I could see distinctly the colours of their feathers, and even the 

 twinkling of their bright eyes. The male is considerably larger than 

 the female. The bill, sharp as a spear, is seemingly of a greenish 

 horn-colour; the crest or occipital feathers black, and lying backwards 

 on each side of the head, as in Yarrell's figure ; the gular feathers of 

 a rich rufous colour, and the breast of a satin whiteness ; the back 

 and wings of a brownish ash. The female has the red on the neck 

 scarcely perceptible. Inquisitive at my approach, they swam back- 

 ward and forward quite close, the male and female swimming side by 

 s'de, the female occasionally nodding her head, after the manner of 

 the gallinule: swimming off a little way, the male chased his mate, on 

 which she rose on wing for a few vards, close to the water, and came 

 down tail foremost, and falling forward ploughed up the water with the 

 impetus ; then coming close to one another they erected their crests at 

 right angles straight out, and emitted sounds like alow cough uttered 

 very quickly. Alter watching thein a little longer, they separated and 

 commenced diving, gently gliding under without a ripple, and re- 

 maining under a considerable time, and on emerging came up head 

 first as gently as they went under: these birds leave us in the winter. 

 The coots were very clamorous, clanking and calling and chasing oue 



