THE GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 178 



From the last-named period I ceased taking particular notes of 

 their occurrence; but in 1845 I heard of one having, some years 

 previously, been shot on Lough Achery, a few miles from Hills- 

 borough ; ^\here the one only had been observed. In the last week 

 of December 18-17, a young bird of the year was shot on Lough 

 Neagh; on the 15th of April 1849, an adult female, on Acton 

 Lake, county of Armagh; and on the 30th of March, 1850, a 

 bird in full adult plumage, on Lough Neagh ; — the crest on this 

 individual was so large and fine, that I considered it a male (the 

 female bears the same appendage), which it was found to be on 

 dissection. On the 13th of May the same year, an adult male was 

 shot on this lake, near Lurgan. 



One striking fact is learned from the preceding data, namely, 

 that all the birds excepting one were killed upon fresh-water, 

 Audubon, who gives a very good account of this species, remarks, 

 that he never observed it near the sea-coast in North America.* 

 During and after severe weather in winter, it is met with, sparingly, 

 on the coast of Ireland. 



The following notes bear witness to native specimens in Dub- 

 lin. — March 1833. I saw one in Mr. Massey's collection at the 

 Pigeon-house Tort. ]\Ir. W. S. Wall, bird-preserver, stated that 

 within the last few years he had received not less than 20 speci- 

 mens, which were killed in various parts of Ireland. May 1837. 

 He has now a bird in adult plumage, which was purchased early 

 in April last, in Dublin market. I saw, in Mr. Warren^s collec- 

 tion, two adult birds, in full nuptial garb, which were shot in the 

 preceding month of March, by the gamekeeper at Knockdriu 

 Castle, near Mullingar, the seat of Sir Eichard Levinge, Bart. 

 On dissection, they proved to be male and female : their plumage 

 is similar, both having the ruff or crest. In this collection were 

 three more of these birds, but wanting the ruff : one of them 

 was shot in Kingstown Harbour, near Dublin. One only of these 

 five specimens is bare of feathers on the abdomen, and it is in 

 full summer plumage. All of the others are abundantly furnished 



* ' Orn. Biog.," vol. iii. p. 595. 



