1 182 Birds. 



Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps rubric ollis. Mr. J. Grey informs 

 me, that the one in his collection was found inland, near Elton, in a 

 state of great exhaustion, and died soon after its capture by a dog. 



Eared Grebe, Podiceps auritus. Here this bird is exceedingly 

 scarce. The only one I know of was shot in January, 1823. 



Little Grebe, Dabchick, Podiceps minor. Common about Har- 

 tlepool; also in Cowpen marshes, where it breeds. The nest, for 

 the size of the bird, is very large and thick. The grebes are very shy 

 and are difficult to come near; they rarely fly, their wings being- 

 small and short. It is worthy of remark, that some of the diving birds 

 make use of their wings to assist them in their movements under water. 

 These birds, like several of the ducks, frequently carry their young 

 under their wings. The grebes have no tails : but their feet are extra- 

 ordinary, and the connecting membranes differ greatly from the true 

 webs of aquatic birds. The tarsi are exceedingly compressed, the fore 

 toes with the claws are flattened, edged by membranes, and connected 

 at their bases. A good representation is given in Mr. Yarrell's work 

 at p. 307, vol. iii. 



Common Guillemot, Uria Troile. A very common species. The 

 guillemots are said not to be able to fly over land. See Bewick, vol. 

 ii. p. 178, edit. 1804. 



Ringed Guillemot, Uria lacrymans. " In my collection, shot on 

 the Tees, last winter." — J. G. It appears from Mr. Yarrell (Brit. 

 Birds, vol. iii. p. 353) that the natives of the Isle of Grimsey near Ice- 

 land, call this species the hringlangnejia, which I conclude means 

 ring-long-neb, or ringed long bill ; neb being a bill in these northern 

 languages. So the same people name the former species langnefia : 

 in fact, both species have long bills. I may add, that the carrion 

 crow, and rook, are in this part of England, designated by common 

 persons, the black-nebbed crow and the white-nebbed crow. 



Black Guillemot, Uria Grylle. Very rare at Hartlepool, accord- 

 ing to Sharp's List. In addition to the eggs, down, and feathers, 

 the dung of those sea-birds, which do not of themselves afford 

 food, is of vast importance to man. The last, termed guano, is daily 

 coming more into use as a rich and valuable manure, and is now im- 

 ported in great quantities from South America (where it was first used) 

 and Africa. But I cannot help thinking, that much British guano — 

 which would be highly beneficial, if not equally so with the foreign 

 — might be obtained on our own coasts, and particularly on those of 

 the more northern parts of Scotland and the adjacent islands. Since 

 this memoir was read, I am glad to find this opinion in a great degree 



