THE LITTLE GUEBE. 191 



of Carrickfergus/ alludes to it as breeding at Lough Morne, and 

 as being called Fenny Bird.'^'' In different parts of the same 

 county (Antrim) it bears other names, being called by the country- 

 people about Clough, Willie Ilawkie, and by those about Toorae 

 by the still less elegant appellation of Tom Tuddin. AVhen on 

 Lough Beg, near to this place, on the 3rd of August, 1846, I 

 saw several of them; — by the name just mentioned, and that 

 only, were they known to our boatman. It is a most unobtrusive 

 species, and requires to be patiently looked for to be seen at all, 

 unless it comes within our view by chance. It breeds in several 

 localities around Belfast, and, though considered a bii-d of shy dis- 

 position, sometimes selects for nidification very small ponds in 

 much-frequented places. A locality of this kind in a bleach-green 

 on the outskirts of the town on the Falls road was chosen for 

 many seasons recently by a pair, which generally succeeded in 

 bringing out their brood of five or six young in safety.f At the 

 lake on whose borders Lissanoure Castle (county of Antrim) is 

 situated, several pair of these grebes formerly bred every year, 

 but they have become scarcer of late. Their nests were often 

 found, and after a storm have been seen floating on the lake with 

 the birds sitting on them. J 



When riding one day, in mild weather in the month of January, 

 on the banks of the Lagan Canal, above the second docks, I was 

 interested for some time in observing one of these birds, which, 

 though quite near, evidently considered my presence no intrusion. 

 It kept diving for food, and every time, on rising to the surface, 

 showed that it had been successful, the motion of the mandibles 

 indicating the breaking of its prey, probably water-beetles, before 

 being swallowed. I was amused, as one often is in watching for 

 the re-appearance of diving birds, to see it frequently rise to the 

 surface in the direction opposite to that anticipated. " The ra- 



* Drink- a-'penny is a uamc applied to it in Straugford Lough, 



t "June 17, 1808. Went to sec a grebe's nest at Lyster's pond ; it had yolk- 

 coloured eggs, about the size of a thrush's, but longer shaped." — Mr. Tenipleton's 

 Joiu-nal. 



X Mr. B. Brooke, 1850. 



