228 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Note on the Great Spotted Woodpecker.—In February and March, 
1907, I had opportunities in Switzerland of observing the habit of the 
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major) recently detailed by 
Mr. Selous (ante, p. 81). Several times I saw the bird carry a fair- 
sized spruce-cone to the crevices, which were higher up than those 
described by Mr. Selous. The lowest I found was more than four feet 
from the ground, and one natural hole that the bird used was about 
ten feet up. All the crevices were in walnut trees, these being the 
only trees near. There was a large collection of cones at the foot of 
each tree, some hardly eaten at all, and others almost entirely de- 
molished. On one occasion I saw the bird fly with a cone to the 
tree which it used most, but, finding the crevices there already occu- 
pied, it flew with the cone to another tree. It is perhaps also worth 
noting that three other species of Woodpecker—Green, Middle 
Spotted, and Lesser Spotted—were all to be seen frequently in the 
vicinity, but none of the others ever came to the spruce trees, the 
Green and Middle Spotted keeping to the walnuts, and the Lesser 
Spotted chiefly to a row of poplars.— H. G. AnExanpErR (3, Mayfield - 
Road, Tunbridge Wells). 
Great Northern Diver and Eared Grebe. — Referring to the article 
on ‘The Birds of Staines” (ante, p. 137), may I venture upon a couple 
of remarks? From the author’s description of the habits of the bird 
he calls a Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glaczalis), I think the bird 
must have been the Black-throated Diver (C. arcticus), the two being 
very difficult to distinguish at a distance by their plumage only, when 
in winter dress, their behaviour being a better guide; and, from his 
description of the behaviour of this particular bird, I should have 
little hesitation in calling it a Black-throated Diver. Personally, I can 
only distinguish the two by their habits when in winter plumage, and 
I have repeatedly watched them in Orkney. With regard to the Hared 
Grebe (Podicipes nagricollis), although the upward bill to the beak is 
a certain guide to the species when in the hand, I very much doubt— 
in fact, am practically certain—whether this could be seen in a free 
bird, even were it within a yard of the observer, and when in winter 
plumage the two are very difficult—indeed, almost impossible—to 
distinguish, unless it be by the slightly smaller size and shorter beak 
of P. ngricollis. Of course, the name Hared Grebe is very mis- 
leading, as the Sclavonian species (P. awritus) in summer plumage 
has far more right to the name, and the so-called Eared Grebe is now 
as often known as the Black-necked, which its Latin name (P. nigrt- 
collis) signifies, and which is a much better name for it, as I have 
