192 On tlie Occurrence of some of the Barer Species of Birds 



1879, respectively — another also being 1 obtained in March, 1875. 



Podiceps Auritus. "The Sclavonian Grebe." This bird has 

 occasionally been obtained in our immediate neighbourhood. One 

 was killed about 1865 at the back of the Close, almost in Salisbury : 

 and a second specimen I shot myself in our own parish. I was 

 taking a ramble in the meadows, when I espied this Grebe swimming 

 about among some Swans, and immediately perceived it was not a 

 Dabchick. I despatched, therefore, a brother-in-law, who was with 

 me, for a gun, while I walked up and down a little distance off the 

 bank, gently heading it when it was inclined to go too far. After 

 about half-an-hour's absence the gun was brought, and exactly as 

 I took it in my hand, the bird dived for the first time. On its 

 coming up I fired, but it apparently dived at the shot, and I feared 

 I had lost it altogether ; but soon after I happened to see it 

 ascending through the water, and secured it with the second 

 barrel before it had time to dive again. Mr. Baker has one which 

 was shot at Knoyle, on a sheep-pond, in 1874. Another of these 

 birds was brought in to King, of Warminster, in the winter of 

 1877, having been captured in a very curious way. A policeman — 

 William Merritt — was walking down the streets of Warminster, 

 one dark cold night, while it was snowing heavily, when he heard a 

 flight of birds pass over his head, and shortly after was startled by 

 hearing a heavy thud in the road behind him, and on turning round to 

 see what it could be, he picked up a Sclavonian Grebe; its plumageand 

 wings being so encrusted with frozen snow that it could no longer 

 use them. It was apparently dead, but, on being held to the fire, 

 the warmth partially restored it. It was well set up by King. 

 This bird is common at Christchurch in winter. In the winter 

 of 1882-3 a dozen specimens or so were brought in; and one was 

 obtained there, in perfect summer plumage, on April 26th, 1878. 



Podiceps Nigricollis. " The Eared Grebe." This bird is con- 

 siderably rarer than the last-mentioned one, though some may now 

 and then be mistaken for the former species, as in their winter 

 plumage they much resemble each other. There is one difference, 

 however, by which you can always distinguish them, which is the 

 beak : the beak of the Eared Grebe turning slightly but decidedly 



