VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 413 
one was killed at Groby, by the keeper of the Earl of Stamford, 
in immature plumage. Harley says, “Captured during the 
storm, which prevailed on the 4th Jan., 1854, in several parts of 
the county; but in no instance, I believe, in its perfect state of 
plumage. It has been frequently met with on the Soar, about 
Loughborough, and also on the Trent. It has likewise been 
shot on the Wreake; and on such pools as those of Groby, 
Saddington, and Dishley.” In Oct., 1885, at Carlton Curlieu 
Hall, I saw an immature specimen contained in a case, on the 
back of which was written, ‘From Saddington Reservoir, Dec. 
16th, 1840, shot by Mr. Hayes Marriott.” Mr. T. Freer, of 
Aylestone, showed me a fully adult specimen (red-throated), shot 
in 1869 (Sept. 10th?), in the canal between the “ West” and 
‘Mill Lane” Bridges, Leicester. 
Family Popicreipm. 
Podiceps cristatus (Linn.). Great Crested Grebe.—A spring 
visitant, sometimes remaining until winter. Potter (‘ History of 
Charnwood Forest’) was informed by the Rev. A. Bloxam that 
an example of this bird had been killed on Groby Pool. Others 
have been met with on the River Soar, about Loughborough 
and Barrow-on-Trent, near Donington, and elsewhere. Mr. 
Macaulay was the first to discover and record its breeding in the 
county, at Saddington Reservoir. In the spring of 1883 a pair 
nested there, and brought off their young. In 1885 the same or 
another pair nested again; but some of the eggs being taken, 
they forsook the water. This year (1886) several pairs nested 
there, and were so common that I was enabled, through Mr. 
Macaulay’s exertions, to get a nest with egys for the Museum, on 
June Ist. At Naseby Reservoir, Mr. Symington reported them 
as abundant. Others appeared also at Thornton and at Belvoir, 
from whence a pair was sent. Their stomachs contained nothing 
but a quantity of Grebe’s breast and side feathers, probably their 
own(?), some few seeds, sand, and a greenish oily substance, 
probably derived from fishes they had swallowed. Mr. Macaulay’s 
earliest record for the appearance of this bird is Feb. 17th (1885) ; 
the latest, Nov. 12th (1881). 
Podiceps griseigena (Bodd.). Red-necked Grebe.—According 
to Mr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat., 1882, p. 79), “one was shot on 
Saddington Reservoir in 1874”; and it appears by his MS. notes 
