‘2 
SCLAYONIAN GREBE. 
water loclis and firths, I met with these l)irds repeatedly in spring, hut never noticed a single specimen 
during autumn or winter. The only occasion on which this Grebe was supposed to have been identified in 
the 'Western Highlands lias already been referred to; other diving-birds somewhat resembling these Grebes 
have been reported, but those from whom my information was drawn could scarcely be trusted, their 
descriptions of plumage and habits being vague and in some instances contradictory. An exceedingly fine 
male in my collection was obtained on Loch Slyn, in the east of Ross-shive, on the 26th of March, 1869. A 
strong breeze from tlie east was blowing wlien a pair of Grebes were sighted within thirty yards of the bank ; 
one, I ascertained by the aid of the glasses, was in the full adult dress, while its mate (evidently a female by 
the size) exhibited not a single stain of colour on a plumage of spotless white. Not having any desire to 
add such varieties to my collection, I secured the brightly coloured male with the first barrel, when tlie albino 
vanished from sight, and the swell rolling across the loch put an effectual stop to any chance of again detecting 
the stranger. During the next ten days, on the Dornoch Eirth and also at the Little Eerry, I met with several 
fine and highly coloured birds ; with the exception of a female needed as a specimen, these were allowed to 
escape; in every instance they proved utterly unsuspicious of danger. The smaller Grebes are almost 
invariably fearless till molested ; if once alarmed it will, however, be found by no means easy to obtain a shot. 
Eor safety they trust almost entirely to diving, their actions below the surface being exceedingly puzzling ; 
a wounded bird may be watched in clear water turning and twisting with the greatest ease, its singular 
lobes or toes being used as paddles and feathered between each stroke in the most rapid manner. 
A severe winter often brings many of these birds in the plain and unpretending dress assumed at that 
season along the east coast, several finding their way on to the broads and rivers when free from ice. The flat 
sandy shores of the numerous marshes along the coasts of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire are frequented at 
the seasons of migration by numbers of Grebes of all species, the large extent of shoal water at low tide 
enabling them to secure an abundant supply of small fish and marine insects. Rye Bay and the mussel-banks 
off Lancing being exceedingly favoured resorts. At times I have noticed small parties of these Grebes, for 
the most part young birds, in the pools of brackish water inside the shingle-banks and also in the sluices and 
marsh-dykes. 
My notes contain descriptions of many changes of plumage exhibited by this species, as well as the colours 
of the soft parts at various seasons : to give all these is scarcely necessary ; it may not, however, be out of 
place to state that the line of bare flesh which extends from tlie eye, and runs with a slight break at the gape 
about half down the lower mandible, is conspicuous at all seasons and is one of the means by which this species 
may be distinguished from the Eared Grebe. In the full plumage this flesh-mark is of a deep reddish tint, 
though in winter it fades considerably in colour. 
