642 



4 



Northern Seeland. In the Netherlands and East Friesland it very rarely remains to breed, but 

 it is not rare on passage, and, Baron von Droste-Hiilshoff says, is one of the commonest of the 

 Grebes in Borkum during migration. In Belgium and France it is found at the two seasons 

 of passage, but is rare, especially in the south of France, adult birds being less frequently met 

 with than those in immature dress. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in his list of the 

 birds of Portugal with a query ; and it appears doubtful if it inhabits Spain ; for Colonel Irby 

 states that he has no record of its occurrence in that country, and it is not included by 

 Mr. Saunders in his list of the birds of Spain. It is, however, said to be not very rare on 

 passage in Savoy and Switzerland ; but it is rare in Italy : Salvadori says that he has seen 

 examples obtained in Piedmont, Lombardy, Venetia, and Liguria; and, according to Savi, it has 

 occurred in Tuscany, beyond which it is very rare. It has been stated by Benoit to have been 

 obtained at Messina, in Sicily ; but Doderlein has not obtained it in that island. In Southern 

 Germany it is found here and there ; and Dr. Anton Fritsch says that in Bohemia " it breeds 

 rarely at the ponds near Kopidlno, formerly pretty frequently near Pardubic. It does not seem 

 to occur in Southern Bohemia, as there is no specimen of it in the museum at Frauenberg. 

 Two young examples were recently shot near Pusin, not far from Prague." Messrs. Danford and 

 Harvie-Brown met with it in Transylvania, where it is uncommon ; but I do not find it recorded 

 from Turkey or Greece, though Lord Lilford states (Ibis, 1860, p. 349) that it is rare in the 

 Ionian Islands, and occasionally occurs in winter at Butrinto. In Southern Russia, Von Nord- 

 mann says, it is very common, especially on salt lakes, except during bad weather, as it is more 

 sensitive to cold than any other species. I do not find it recorded from Asia Minor or Palestine ; 

 and Von Heuglin writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 1361) that it but rarely appears in North-east Africa, 

 and is probably only a winter visitant to the Nile delta. 



Curiously enough it would seem to breed in North-west Africa ; and Favier says {fide 

 Colonel Irby) that it " is less common near Tangier than Podiceps cristatus, being seldom 

 observed on passage. Some remain in the country to breed, the others migrating northwards in 

 March, returning again during September. They are more abundant at the lakes of Eas-Dowra, 

 and are there called 'Mazan' by the Arabs." To this Colonel Irby adds the following notes: — 

 " I have seen specimens of the Red-necked Grebe obtained in Morocco by Favier so young that 

 they must have been bred in the country ; and although I was unable to procure a specimen for 

 identification, I am confident I saw several of this species at Ras-Dowra in April." Loche 

 records it from Algeria as very rare in winter, and adds that the specimen in the museum at 

 Algiers was obtained on Lake Fezzara. There appears to be but one form of this Grebe in 

 Europe, individuals differing slightly in size ; but in Asia and in North America there is a form 

 which differs somewhat in having a longer bill and a longer tarsus, and in being generally rather 

 larger in size. I have not been able to examine a sufficiently large series of specimens from 

 North America and Asia to enable me to give a decided opinion on the subject; but it appears 

 to me that this form is scarcely deserving of specific rank, and I have therefore included the 

 synonyms in the above list. In the series of European examples I have examined, I find that 

 the variation in measurements of adult males is as follows, viz. wing 7T to 7 - 3 inches, gape 

 1*85 to T95, tarsus 2T to 2'3, middle toe with claw 2 - 55 to 275; whereas Dr. Coues gives the 

 measurements of American specimens as follows (B. of N.W. p. 731), viz. wing 7 - to 7*S, 



