974 Birds. 



meets with this bird not unfrequently at Yarmouth ; and a young friend 

 brought me one he had picked up dead on the shore, December 19, 

 1844. In this bird the crest and tippet are immature. 



Tlie Red-necked Grebe has been obtained by Mr. Butler two or 

 three times. 



The Sclavonian Grebe 1 give on the same authority, as having oc- 

 curred occasionally. 



The Little Grebe is common enough, during winter, on the river 

 about Newchurch ; but does not remain to breed there. Two or three 

 pairs were wont to breed on Westmill-pond, near Carisbrooke, so long 

 as that pond existed. Many more passed the winter there ; but, 

 whither did these birds migrate ? — is a question more easily put than 

 answered. 



TJie Great Northern Diver was seen by me off Dunnose, February 

 27, 1842. When first observed, it was nearly one hundred yards from 

 the shore, but gradually swam out, and joined a flock of red-throated 

 divers, thus enabling me to decide positively on its species, the differ- 

 ence of size being most manifest. My friend, E. Peel, Esq., possess- 

 ed a specimen of this bird, which was shot while asleep in Sandown 

 Bay ; and Mr. Butler has once obtained it : this bird weighed nine 

 pounds. 



The Black-throated Diver. In the autumn of 1841 (the exact date 

 I have lost), I saw a fine adult bird of this species diving along close 

 in-shore. I had no gun, or I might probably have obtained it : all I 

 did get was a tumble I have not yet forgotten, in running along the 

 rocky shore to be up with the bird when it emerged. I have also seen 

 one of these birds, in immature plumage, which was shot in Sandown 

 Bay ; and another in the collection of the late Mr. Tuttiet. 



The Red-throated Diver is very abundant all winter off our shore. 

 The earliest date of its appearance I find recorded in my note-book, 

 is October 30 : but the numbers are not great till about the first week 

 in December. By that time they have become very numerous, and 

 are constantly passing and repassing, generally in small flocks, and in 

 two lines, one within half a mile of, and the other about a mile and a 

 half from the shore ; and so exactly do they keep the line, that, once 

 get your boat into it, and scarcely a bird will pass out of shot : while 

 the greater number (and I have seen some dozens in the hour) will 

 cross within twenty yards. Of the hundreds I have seen, only one 

 with a red throat has come under my notice ; and that was on April 

 24, when the bird may be supposed to have assumed the breeding- 

 plumage. What induced this bird to remain here so late in the sea- 



