633 



Passing eastward I find it recorded as common in winter on the lakes of Switzerland and 

 Savoy ; and in the latter country it is found throughout the greater part of the year. In Italy, 

 according to Salvadori, it is common in the winter, and some pairs remain, and probably breed 

 on the larger sheets of water in Tuscany ; but it is uncertain if this is the case in Northern Italy 

 and Lombardy. He has seen young birds obtained in Sardinia, and thinks it probable that it 

 breeds in Sicily, which island it visits annually. Mr. A. B. Brooke says (Ibis, 1873, p. 349) that 

 it visits the large lagoons of Sardinia in great numbers during winter, where they are hunted 

 and shot down systematically, none being allowed (at any rate near Cagliari) to remain to breed. 

 In Malta it is common, arriving, Mr. Wright says, in September, and may be seen during the 

 greater part of the winter, being sometimes seen also on the spring passage. 



In Southern Germany it is a summer resident. Dr. Fritsch states (J. f. O. 1872, p. 377) 

 that it frequently breeds in Bohemia, but migrates south in the winter. When on passage it is 

 seen on rivers, and is occasionally caught in fish-nets amongst the floating ice. It occurs regularly 

 in Austria ; and Von Tschusi-Schmidhofen says that there are examples in the Carol.-Aug. Museum 

 from Zell, Mattsee, Leopoldskron, Golling, &c. ; and one was shot in 1874 near Bruck, in Pinzgau. 

 Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown write (Ibis, 1875, p. 433) that it is very common on the lakes 

 of the Mezoseg, in Transylvania, arriving in March and leaving in October ; and the same may be 

 said respecting its occurrence in the countries skirting the Lower Danube. According to Messrs. 

 Elwes and Buckley (Ibis, 1870, p. 34) it is "very common on the coast of Turkey in winter, and 

 on the lakes in summer. Large quantities of skins are collected by the Greek ' sportsmen ' in the 

 seaports, who sell them for exportation to France." In Greece, Dr. Kriiper states, it is numerous 

 in the winter ; and Lord Lilford informs me that it is by no means rare in Epirus at that season. 

 In Southern Russia it is resident, except during very severe weather ; and Mr. G. C. Taylor found 

 it plentiful in the Bay of Eregli and at Ismid. It is said to be tolerably common in Asia Minor, 

 and is resident in Palestine, where Canon Tristram found it breeding numerously in the marshes 

 of Merom ; and in winter he saw it on the Dead Sea, especially near the mouth of the Jordan. 



In Africa the Great Crested Grebe is found down to the Cape of Good Hope. In Egypt it 

 is rare. Captain Shelley saw it twice in the Fayoom,and believes that he observed it on the Nile 

 near Keneh ; Dr. A. E. Brehm met with it on Lake Menzaleh and the Red Sea, but only singly ; 

 Von Heuglin states that it is but rare on the Nile ; but Mr. Blanford writes that it is extremely 

 numerous, and doubtless a permanent resident, on Lake Ashangi, in Abyssinia, According to 

 Loche it is abundant in Algeria, and breeds on Lakes Halloula and Fezzara ; Canon Tristram 

 once observed it at Tuggurt ; and other naturalists have also met with it in Algeria. Favier writes 

 (fide Colonel Irby) that near Tangier it is less common than the Little Grebe ; some remain in 

 the country to breed, whereas others pass north during March. They are very abundant on the 

 lakes of Ras-Dowra. To this, Colonel Irby adds, " I can quite corroborate the latter statement ; 

 for when at these lakes at the end of April the number of these Grebes, as well as of Podiceps 

 griseigena, was perfectly marvellous. They were in pairs, but had not commenced laying. These 

 swampy lakes, much covered at the sides with aquatic plants and sedges, must be a Paradise for 

 all Grebes and water-birds ; but it is vexation of spirit and almost useless for the ornithologist 

 to go there. The Arabs at the egging-season move their tents close to the lake and plunder 

 every nest they can find, and further pester Europeans to an unbearable degree, being almost as 



4u 



