ORNITHOLOGY OF CORNWALL. • 201 



the opinion that, although this state of phimage may be regarded 

 generally as the Summer plumage, very old birds may probably 

 retain this plumage perennialhj. The Grebes too, which were 

 generally distributed in the South and Western Counties of 

 England during the late winter, have the same seasonal change of 

 plumage, losing their tufts and ruffs in winter. I may here 

 mention that a good deal has been said in the papers about the 

 appearance of the Sclavonian or Horned Grebe as a rare bird ; 

 but in the different inlets and creeks of Falmouth Harbour, where 

 rushes and reeds offer a suitable retreat, such as St. Just Creek, 

 under Mesack, the Lamorran Creek, the Tresillian River, the Fal 

 lip to the morass and rushes under Trewarthenick, the various 

 species of Grebe, from the Great Crested to the little Dabchick, 

 may be seen every year and throughout the year. 



The only species of Duck which appears in the Southern 

 Counties in the Spring and Summer is the little Garganey, or 

 Summer Teal. It is only occasionally that they make Cornwall a 

 resting-place on their journey to the Eastern and Midland Counties 

 to breed ; but the Penzance Museum has been favoured, this 

 Spring, with beautiful specimens presented by J. Symons, jun., 

 Esq., of May on House, near the Land's End, where they were 

 shot on the 30th of March. 



There is no other ornithological occurrence that suggests itself 

 to me as bemg worthy of notice this year. 



