188 COLYMBID^. 



killed at Clogheen.'^ One " in the plumage of the swimming 

 bird, figured in Yarrell's work" (immature) was shot in the last 

 week of May 1843, on the canal near Blenuerville, comity Kerry. t 

 Tts being in this plumage at such an advanced period of the sum- 

 mer leads to the conclusion that the species does not reach 

 matm'ity in one year. 



Specimens of this grebe were obtained in Dublin market, or 

 sent to the city for preservation, as follows. One in the winter 

 of 1842-43? — now in the University Museum. One, said to 

 have been shot on the Wexford coast, 10th of February, 1847, 

 during severe frost. One in February, and another in October, 

 1848. The last of which I have been informed, w^as killed on 

 December 19, 1849 : all of these are in the plumage of the 

 dusky grebe. J 



Not one of the above specimens seen by myseK, or described 

 to me by others, was in adult summer plumage. All were, indeed, 

 what are considered by Mr. Selby to be the young of the year. 

 It Avill be remarked that most of them were obtained in the 

 last great Anatidce winter of 1837-38, and that they occm'red 

 from the north to the south of the island. The still more rare 

 red-necked and eared grebes were also procured that season. 



This grebe is of more frequent occurrence in England and 

 Scotland than in Ireland. Sir William Jardine considers it the 

 most common species, next to the little grebe, in Scotland, and 

 remarks — "Specimens occur during the whole winter in the 

 Edinburgh markets, and we have frequently shot it in the river 

 Annan during winter : it never attempted to fly, but was not 

 nearly so watchful as the little grebe, diving, but coming up 

 again in sight, and allowing itself to be approached within shot. 

 The little grebe, on diving, immediately seeks some cover, and is 

 not again seen."|| The Sclavonian grebe is said to be, "though 

 in small numbers, a constant inhabitant in Orkney,"^ and to 



* Mr. R. Davis, jun. + Mr. R. Chute. 



% I have seen two of those alluded to iu Mr. Watters' collection. 



II ' Brit. Birds," vol. iv. \^. 207. If ' Hist. Nat. Oread.' (184S) p. 83, 



