502 Birds. 



by supposing that it crept into some crab's hole, of which there were many in the hard 

 mud of the bank. And the fact that it does resort to a similar means of concealment, 

 namely, a rat's hole in the bank of a ditch, renders this supposition less improbable. 

 The fact to which I allude is the capture of a grebe by my father, many years ago. 

 He saw it go into the hole and caught it there. I have shot others of the genus — 

 the tippet-grebe &c. — from a boat in the larger creeks aud channels of the sea, as well 

 as at some distance from the coast : but I never met with the little grebe in any part 

 of the salt water, except the pools above named. That their transit to these haunts 

 from the " fleets " mentioned by Mr. Parsons, occasions them but little trouble, I can- 

 not doubt, from the frequency of their indulgence in the aerial trips above mentioned, 

 in which, moreover, they proved themselves possessed of both strength and considera- 

 ble rapidity of flight. And having thus conducted them over the sea-wall " on the 

 strength " of their wings, I bid my amusing little friends heartily farewell, wishing 

 them " good luck to their fishing." — Id. 



Note on the occurrence of the Crested Grebe in Middlesex. I have received a speci- 

 men of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which was shot in that part of the 

 Thames called Penton-hook, near Laleham, Middlesex. It is a young bird in its first 

 winter, and consequently the crest is imperfect. Whole length 22£ inches, from the 

 carpal joint to end of the longest feathers 8 inches. I mention this because it is the 

 first I ever knew captured in this part of the country. — F. A. Chennell ; Stoke, Guild- 

 ford, February 16, 1844. 



Note on the occurrence of the Iceland Gull at Yarmouth. The occurrence of the Ice- 

 land gull so far south as Yarmouth, is so rare, that a notice of its capture, though not 

 recent, will perhaps be interesting. Three birds of this species were killed near the 

 harbour's mouth on the 14th of January, 1830, by Mr. D. B. Preston of this town, and 

 several others were obtained about the same time, one of which was in adult plumage. 

 I learn from Mr. Preston that the birds which he killed were all immature, apparent- 

 ly in the plumage of the second year, and he adds that they are immediately known by 

 their flight, which resembles that of a hawk. I should have mentioned in my notice 

 of the fire-crested Eegulus, that it forms an addition to the list of birds found in this 

 neighbourhood. — William R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, February 7, 1844. 



A Fauna of Moray. By the Rev. G. Gordon. 



(Concluded from p. 429) 



II. BIRDS. 



The Province of Moray, particularly that part of it which surrounds 

 its capital, the town of Elgin, has been long famed for the salubrity 

 of its climate. Its Ornithology, as shown in the following list, will 

 not detract from this celebrity. And perhaps by no more impartial 

 or stronger criterion could it be tested. The Grampians may prevent 

 the more tender plants of southern Floras from crossing their lofty 

 range, but they present no barrier to the migrations of the feathered 

 tribes in search of a genial summer clime. The growth and flourish- 



