142 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
after time they dived into the water and brought out fish the 
size of Bleak or small Roach, which they swallowed head first 
while still on the wing. The next day I could find no sign of 
the birds. It is not uncommon for one or two Terns to come up 
the Thames in the autumn, but I do not think I have any note 
of their occurrence in spring, and I have certainly never seen 
such a large flock. 
Harup Gress (Podicipes nigricollis)—There were not many 
birds on the waters when I visited the Staines Reservoirs on 
Oct. 13th, 1907, but a small Grebe at once attracted my atten- 
tion, and there is no doubt that it was an Eared Grebe in winter 
plumage. It was very tame, swimming quite close in to the side 
and moving ata great pace. On Oct. 26th the Hared Grebe was 
still in the same corner of the reservoirs, and I watched it for a 
long while; the beak is curved slightly upwards, which I do not 
remember to have noticed with any other Grebe. After diving 
it came to the surface with a fish, and then brought one foot out 
of the water to help it get the fish into the right position for 
swallowing. 
The most important of my other notes is perhaps the occur- 
rence of the Great Northern Diver, being the third appearance 
of the bird since 1881. It seems curious that it should have so 
often visited such an inland district. 
On Christmas Day, 1905, I visited the Staines Reservoirs, 
and almost immediately sighted a Great Northern Diver swim- 
ming at one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards from the 
side. ‘The bird was not alarmed at my presence, and I watched 
it for a long time. It dived and came up with quite a large fish, 
which it swallowed; it also scratched its head with its foot, 
showing its under parts nicely. The next day the bird was 
further out, and I could not see it so well. On Jan. 1st, 1906, I 
had only just located the Diver when it rose and flew for some 
distance, passing quite close to where I was standing. The 
flight was high and powerful, the neck being stretched out in 
front and the legs behind. I did not see the bird after Jan. 28th ; 
it then seemed to be quite at home, and to find plenty of fish. I 
tried to time the length of its dives, but was not very successful, 
as the bird pops up suddenly, and so far away from the spot it 
went down at that it is very hard to see it directly it comes up. 
