By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



167 



informs me that a young male in his collection was shot on the 

 Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes in February, 1839. Mr. 

 Withers had an immature specimen sent to him for preservation 

 which was killed at En ford ; and Mr. Marsh possessed a female shot 

 on the Avon in February, 1838. 



" Red-necked Grebe." (Podiceps riibricollis.) This is a smal- 

 ler species than the last, and if not a more rare visitor to our coasts, 

 is more rarely noticed, as it prefers salt water to fresh, and being 

 an inhabitant of more northern latitudes, only comes to us in winter. 

 It is said when diving, " to dart through thick entangled masses of 

 weeds and grass with the ease and rapidity of the fish." I am 

 fortunate in having one instance of the occurrence in our county 

 of so rare an inland straggler : and I am again indebted to Mr. 

 Elgar Sloper for the information that one was killed near Devizes 

 in 1840. 



"Eared Grebe." {Podiceps auritus.) This is the rarest British 

 Grebe, and it is strange that I am able to include it in our Wiltshire 

 list, more especially as I am obliged to omit its far commoner con- 

 gener, the Sclavonian or Horned Grebe (P. cornutus), as though in 

 all probability it does occasionally occur in our county, I have no 

 evidence of its occurrence. The Eared Grebe I unhesitatingly 

 admit on the authority of the late Mr. Marsh, who informed me 

 that a specimen was killed at Christian Malford. 



" Little Grebe." (Podiceps minor.) We come now to the com- 

 monest and best known of all the genus, the familiar " Dabchick," 

 which may be generally seen on every retired river or large pond ; 

 a shy retiring species, disappearing beneath the surface at the 

 first alarm, and only re-appearing at a considerable distance ; and 

 then perhaps, after the manner of its congeners, only thrusting its 

 head above water, while the body is still submerged. I would here 

 call attention to the feet of the Grebes, which are very peculiar, 

 and are furnished with a broad membrane down the sides of the 

 toes, not unlike those of the Lobipedidse. 



"Great Northern Diver." (Colymbus glacialis.) This mag- 

 nificent species is an inhabitant of northern seas, as its name implies, 

 and one of the most glorious sights to me as an Ornithologist when 



o2 



