186 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



on the high wolds (Zool. 1879, p. 372). The earliest records for the east 

 coast recorded in the Migration Reports are: — 



1882. Fame Inner Lighthouse. March 22nd, 3 p.m., two. 



1884. Fame Inner Lighthouse. March 19th. 



1885. Yarmouth February 24i/i, one shot on denes. 



„ Hunstanton Lighthouse. March 15th, one. 



1886. Fame Inner Lighthouse. February %%nd, two, 5 p.m., on island. 

 ,, Fame Inner Lighthouse. March 25th, two. 



„ North Northumberland . March 26th, one caught in rabbit- 

 trap and sent to me. 

 „ Great Cotes .... March 29th, two on Humber Bank. 

 In the 1886 occurrences see Mig. Report, 1885, p. 40, footnote. 

 The spring fly-line of the Wheatear to the east coast of England appears 

 to be from S.E. to N.W.— -John Cokdeaux (Great Cotes, CJlceby). 



Birds flying against Windows. — As two correspondents have written 

 lately on the subject of birds flying against windows, it may be worth 

 mentioning that the first summer migrant noticed here this year was a 

 female Blackcap, which flew against the windows of a house in this parish 

 on Sunday, April 13th, and was picked up dead. It was given to me 

 shortly afterwards. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, B ury St. Edmunds). 



Eared Grebe in Merionethshire. — The Eared Grebe has appeared 

 so rarely on the Merionethshire coast that the following notes of its occur- 

 rence seem worth recording : — On February 1st I saw two of these small 

 Grebes on a tidal pool not far from Port Madoc, both of which I obtained. 

 On the 3rd another came up the Traeth with the tide, and I killed it at a 

 distance of about 60 yards, — a long shot for a Grebe, — with a 2-bore 

 goose gun. On the 4th I obtained two more specimens. The weather 

 during the latter part of January had been wet and stormy, with several 

 severe gales from the south, but became fine and calm about Feb. 2nd. 

 These birds were examined by my friend Mr. J. Cordeaux, who pronounced 

 one to be an old bird in winter plumage, the others young birds of last year. 

 I saw nothing more of this species until March 13th, — a wet day, with a 

 strong S,W. wind, — when I obtained one at the same place where the 

 others had been killed. This bird was far advanced towards the summer 

 plumage, having the orange ear-tufts fully developed. The black of the 

 neck, however, was somewhat interrupted with grey feathers, and the chin 

 was white. The Eared Grebe is much easier to shoot than any of the 

 other species, from its habit of diving with a spring, like a Cormorant or 

 Merganser. If shot at unsuccessfully, it will frequently rise and fly for a 

 short distance after the first dive. It is also much less shy than the 

 Sclavonian or Little Grebes. On March 23rd I observed two beautiful 

 Eared Grebes, in full summer plumage, just inside the bar at the mouth of 

 the Estuary. I again saw them on the 29th near the same spot, where 



