THE GREAT-CRESTED GREBE. 175 



eggs had not beeu seen by any of the persons questioned respect- 

 ing them. Two of these grebes, shot about the river Shannon 

 or Lough Derg, on the 2nd of March, ] 847, were sent to the 

 Belfast Museum by the late Mr. J. J. Marshall, of Portumna. The 

 one was in full suiumer plumage, and the other in the next stage 

 to maturity. The lower pin mage of the adult was greatly more 

 shining and silky in appearance than that of the other. Dissec- 

 tion showed both to be males. 



Breeding Haunts. — Under this heading, such of the instances 

 as have already beeu mentioned that relate exclusively to the 

 breeding season will be repeated. 



The great- crested grebe is known to nidify in lakes situated in 

 a few of the Irish counties, and probably does so in a number of 

 them. In the summer of 1834, one was shot at a small lake in 

 Hillsborough Park (Dowm), wliere the species is said to breed 

 annually. The gamekeeper, before firing at the bird, was struck 

 by the singular appearance of its back, and afterwards found, to 

 his surprise, that this was caused by its having a young one under 

 each wing.^ An ornithologist visiting this park on the lUth of 

 June, 1845, saw one of these birds on the lake, and was told by 

 the keeper that its mate was probably on her nest, as, when not 

 there, the paii" are generally together. As a second bird had not 

 been observed for a few days, it was concluded that the female 

 was engaged in incubation. A pair only breeds here. None 

 have been seen in any winter, excepting in that of 1847-48, 

 during which two birds are said to have remained. No matter 

 how many are produced here, never more than one pair returned 

 to breed. Portion of a nest of the preceding year was brought to 

 me from this lake in June 1849, and proved to be whoUy com- 

 posed of Charce. The eggs arc usually three in number. 



Adult birds in full summer plumage, shot on the 26th of 

 April, 1842, and in the first week of the same month in 1845, 

 came under my notice; the former obtained in the neighbourhood 



* Pennant was aware of its thus protecting its brood : and rcmari<cd — " It is a 

 careful nurse of its young, being observed to feed them most assiduously, com- 

 monly with small eels ; and when its infant brood arc tired, will carry thcni either 

 on its back or under its wings" (p. 420). 



