376 Correspondence.


•wish to possess, but, according to my limited experience, it is practically-

impossible to obtain either it or the Prairie Hen.


Having a friend in the States (both a business man and a sportsman)

I wrote to him a few months since to iuvestigate matters, and try to get me

some of these. He set to work and sent me amass of correspondence from

Game Commissioners, Naturalists, Officers of the U. S. Department of

Agriculture, Bird Dealers, etc., all pointing to this, namely that the Ruffed

■Grouse and Prairie Hen were so scarce it was almost impossible to obtain

them, and further that the laws of most of the States prohibit exportation.


I should be delighted to hear that the information is erroneous, but

I fear not.


Before it is too late cannot some enterprising member of the

Avicultural Society, with better means and knowledge for the purpose than

I possess, be persuaded to make a determined effort to obtain a few of

these birds for breeding in England ? The legal difficulty in America could

be got over by license or otherwise.


It is believed the birds would do well under suitable conditions in

this country, and, if once a stock were obtained, the result would surely be

■worth the initial trouble and expense.


I would readily subscribe to a fund if anything can be done.


Matters move fast in America, and soon I fear it will be too late.


C. Barnby Smith.


NESTING HABITS OF THE LITTLE GREBE.

Sir, — On May the 19th last, I saw a Little Grebe {Podicipes fluviatelis)

-sitting 011 a small and weedy pond a few yards from the bank. To the best

of my knowledge she had been sitting there at least a week. On my

revisiting the place on July 1st, I found to my surprise the bird was still

sitting on the same nest. Surely this could not have been the first lot of

■eggs ? Does the Little Grebe use the same nest for the second lot of eggs ?

I had always understood another nest was made for these. Any in formation

on this point I should be very grateful for, as I have before sent this query

to another magazine which has altogether ignored it:


Gordon Dat,gt,iesh.



