74 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



subject (p. 230). Yarrell's statement, quoted by Mr. Macpherson, that 

 " Grebes sit upright on the whole length of the tarsus," is all the more ex- 

 traordinary, since the true state of affairs must have been pretty well known 

 for many years. In Wood's ' Natural History,' the woodcut of the Crested 

 Grebe (misnamed " Eared Grebe "), shows the bird with the tarsus at 

 perhaps a greater angle than 22£° with the ground, and in the same work 

 the Little Grebe is shown standing with it at 45° at least. These 

 attitudes are, I should say, pretty correct. The Little Grebe carries its 

 tarsus, if anything, even more upright. Anyone who has had the oppor- 

 tunity of studying the ways of a Dabchick when brought into a room, 

 must have been struck with its activity, and the rapidity with which it 

 will " patter " about the floor, — entirely contradicting Yarrell's remark that 

 their " walk is constrained." In writing of this species in particular, 

 indeed, the latter author, while he notes that in walking "its progression 

 has been asserted to be still more embarrassed " [than its flight], records on 

 the authority of the late Mr. Gatcombe and others, that one kept in the 

 Zoological Society's Gardens " could run very swiftly from one place to 

 another, and could stand upright, although in a somewhat knock-kneed posi- 

 tion." I have only once had an opportunity of handling a living specimen 

 of the Great Crested Grebe; in September, 1881. It could stand fairly 

 upright (in a very similar attitude to the bird in Wood's book, before men- 

 tioned), with its tarsus well off the ground, but at this distance of time I 

 cannot say just at what angle. In this position it was quite capable of 

 walking. The bird was, however, very tired (it had been picked up in a 

 field at a little distance from water), and when left to itself preferred to lower 

 its body and rest on its breast. On being introduced to a large tabby cat, 

 who had evinced great curiosity about the Grebe while the latter was con- 

 fined in a hamper, the energies of Podiceps, however, at once rose to the 

 occasion, and with a couple of well-directed strokes of his long sharp bill, 

 he completely routed grimalkin, who after that could not be induced to 

 come within two or three yards of the bird. — 0. V. Aplin (Bloxham, Oxon). 



Martinique Gallinule in Hants, — Although Mr. More has knocked the 

 so-called "Irish" Martinique Gallinule on the head, Porphyrio martinicus 

 must not be too hastily struck out of the British list. Mr. Edward Hart 

 has recently discovered one killed in Hampshire. It has been recorded as 

 a Purple Gallinule in 'The Zoologist' (1865, p. 9418), and was killed by 

 Mr. C. Stares in a marsh while flapper-shooting in August, 1863. In the 

 same month a Porphyrio of some kind was caught alive in Northumberland 

 (cf. Hancock, 'Birds of Northumb. and Durham,' p. 126), which may have 

 been another Martinique Gallinule. Mr. Hancock writes to me that he 

 had but a very slight view of it, and that it was afterwards sent to London, 

 and has since been lost sight of, but he saw enough to be sure that the 

 plumage was perfect, and showed no signs of the bird having been in confine- 



