358 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Pectoral Sandpiper, it would be well for those possessing British-killed 

 specimens of the latter to examine them with a view to ascertain that 

 they are correctly referred to the American species, with which Mr. Seebohm 

 says it appears to intergrade, and it may be that at some future time I may 

 have to return to the subject.— T. Southwell (Norwich). 



Eared Grebe in Norfolk. — When boating on Rockland Broad, near 

 Norwich, with my brother, on July 28th, we were much interested in 

 seeing an Eared Grebe, Podicipes nigricullls. It was in full summer 

 plumage, the golden-brown feathers behind the eye forming a striking 

 contrast to its black head and neck. When first observed it was swimming 

 at the edge of some growing water-plants. After a good look at it through 

 our telescopes we rowed closer, but when about twenty-five yards off the 

 the bird rose, the white on the wings being conspicuous. Shortly afterwards 

 we saw it near a reed-bed on another part of the Broad, but when rowing 

 towards it a gentleman in a small boat disturbed it, and again it took wing. 

 We noted its resting place, and slowly paddled to within about twenty yards ; 

 it flew a short distance and settled on our lee. Sitting quite still, we 

 allowed our boat to drift, and the wind slowly carried us to within ten yards 

 before it again took wing. An hour later, on our way off the Broad, we 

 again saw it near the place where we had first noticed it. Some authorities 

 state that when this bird is disturbed it dives and does not fly. During the 

 time we watched it we did not see it dive. The Eared Grebe is sometimes 

 met with in Norfolk in the spring, and more rarely in the autumn. I cannot 

 find any record of one being seen in July, Mr. Booth, in his ' Rough Notes 

 on British Birds,' mentions that a man once brought him an old bird and 

 two young, but he did not take a note of the date. — Edward Bidwell 

 (Twickenham). 



Eared Grebe and Tufted Duck in Anglesea.— While shooting at a 

 fetnall lake in Anglesea on the 1st of August last, I obtained a male Eared 

 or Black-necked Grebe, Podicipes nigricollis. There were also on the water 

 a number of Coots and Little Grebes, but this bird was feeding by itself. 

 Is this not a very unusual date to find this species, which has generally 

 only been taken as an accidental visitor in the spring or autumn migration? 

 Can any of your correspondents give an explanation of its occurring at this 

 time, and also of the state of its plumage, which is either that of a young 

 bird, or after the autumn moult, as it has no trace of the nuptial plumes. 

 The same day, a Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata, was obtained on the lake, 

 which species, I am glad to say, appears to be fairly established as a resident 

 in Anglesea. I have now seen this duck in breeding plumage in Anglesea, 

 Cheshire, and Northumberland. — T. A. Coward (Bowdon). 



A Brood of Pied Blackbirds. — A brood of Blackbirds, all more or less 

 marked with white, has been reared this summer by the parent birds 



