Vol: xxxix.] 84 
themselves they took other food as well. They picked 
something, apparently small insects, from the surface of 
the water, and on one occasion one brought from the 
bottom what looked like a large drowned earthworm and 
‘swallowed it. 
“The birds evinced little fear of people walking on the 
reservoir banks and merely swam out for a few yards if 
anyone passed when they were feeding close inshore. - When 
‘éncumbered with a brood this indifference was even greater, 
and they would feed the young ones with apparent uncon- 
cern, although people were standing and watching them ata - 
distance of a few feet. I was standing one afternoon at the 
water’s edge looking at an old bird with two young ones. 
On two occasions this bird came to the surface just at my 
feet. It did then evince some alarm, uttering a cry, whit} 
whit, whit, it rushed through the water for a yard or two 
with body submerged and head and neck only protruding; 
then dived again just as the Great Crested Grebe does under 
similar circumstances. This discomposure was, however, 
only momentary, and the bird resumed the even tenor of its 
fishing without more ado. : . 
“Tf, as seems likely, the birds come to Tring again next 
year, they will be secure from molestation in the protection 
of Lord Rothschild. One can only hope that if any take up 
their quarters on other waters they will enjoy a like immunity 
and that. collectors will refrain from taking either birds of 
eggs until they have had a chance of properly establishing 
themselves, for, putting on one side the interest which 
they have for the academic ornithologist, these curious and 
very beautiful Grebes would be a welcome addition to the 
regular avifauna of our inland waters.” | 
Lord Rotuscuixp said that from statements made to him 
by the head keeper (James Street), that he distinctly saw on 
Wilstone Reservoir two pairs of these Grebe with young 
and one pair on Marsworth Reservoir, he was convinced 
that all three pairs of birds successfully hatched and br eae 
up their young. 
