PODICIPID.E. 419 



Islands. It nests commonly in. Denmark, in the soutli of Sweden and 

 Xorway, in various parts of Russia and Germany, also in N. Africa, and 

 a large-billed form is said to occur in Asia and in jS^. America (Dresser, 

 E. of E. vol. viii. p. 643). Mr. Cordeanx considered, from his experience of 

 this species in Lincolnshire, that it was more marine than anj- other of 

 the (irebes. 



It is singular that Mr. Rodd should have considered the Hed-necked 

 Grebe a common species in Cornwall, stating that it was quite as numerous 

 as the Great Crested Grebe. A beautiful adult specimen was shot at 

 Durgan in the spring of 1806. Mr. Mansel-Pleydell mentions several 

 from Dorsetshire waters, and considered it rare. In iSomerset it is very 

 rare ; one was obtained at Taunton in February 1870, and another in the 

 same month in the following year on the moors at North Curr^^ 



Sclavonian G-rebe, Podkejps auritus (Linn.). 



[Horned Grebe, Dusky Grebe.] 



A winter visitor, of not uncommon occurrence in bays and estuaries. 

 In Xorth Devon this species was formerly obtained on the Taw with some 

 I'egularity nearly every winter (M. A. M., Zool. 1858, p. 6015) ; and 

 according to Earon A. von Hiigel the Sclavonian and the Great Crested 

 Grebes are the most numerous of the family in Torbay (Zool. 1874, 

 p. 3007). The Sclavonian Grebe was unusually abundant in February 

 and March 1S70, both on the north and south coasts of the county. The 

 specimens obtained are generally in immature plumage, adults being 

 extremely rare, but one in the Torquay Museum was obtained on Torbay. 

 Individuals vary considerabl}^ in size. This species is of northern distri- 

 bution. 



This is a smaller species than the two Grebes we have already described, 

 and one which some years ago was (luite common as a winter visitor to 

 the north and south coasts of Devonshire, and was on the Earnstaple 

 river by far the most numerous of the family, often occurring to ourselves 

 oif the Elack llocks at Instow. Although so plentiful in comparison, wo 

 have no record of one in the breediiig-jjlumagc from the north of the 

 county, nor has this species ever been detected as nesting in the United 

 Kingdom. In Scotland it is, according to Mr. K. Gray, vorj' common on 

 the western lochs, where it assembles and remains until it migrates north- 

 wards towards tlie end of April, and examples in full breodiug-plumago 

 are frecjuently obtained. The gambols of these birds in the spring, when 

 they are chasing and shrilly calling to one another on the water, are 

 described as very entertaining. Tlie Sclavonian Grebe has been detoctcd 

 diving and carrying at tlie same time its young under its wings ! In the 

 .south of the county many examples liuve been recorded at various times 

 by Mr. J. Gatcombe from the neighbtnirhood of I'lymouth, but ho had to 

 state that Grebes of all kinds were yearly becoming scarcer on the Sound. 

 Many liavo been olttained on Torbay, the only locahty from whicli one of 

 these Grebes in full breeding-plumage has been reported. 



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