168 
BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
through Lord Gainsborough, who took me to see an immature specimen in the 
possession of Henry Cunnington, which was shot by his (Cunnington’s) father, 
at Exton, about 1858. 
Family P0DICIPID.^E. 
GREAT CRESTED GREBE. Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus). 
“ Tufted Grebe,” often called “ Eared Grebe ” by error. 
A spring visitant, sometimes remaining until winter. — Mr. Babington 
(Appendix ‘Potter,’ p. 70) said: — Groby Pool. Communicated by the Rev. 
A. Bloxam.” Harley had no record of its breeding in the county, but said 
it had been met with on the River Soar, about Loughborough, near Donington, 
and elsewhere. Mr. Alacaulay records it for Saddington Reservoir, its earliest 
appearance as noted by him being 17th February (1885); the latest, 12th November 
(1881). In 1880 several birds were procured at the Reservoir, and on 12th 
November, 1881, Air. Alacaulay shot a young female, which he presented to 
the Aluseum. A specimen was shot on Braunstone Pool, sometime about 1882, 
by W. H. Johnson of Braunstone Old Hall. Air. J. B. Ellis informs me that 
two or three pairs frequented Thornton Reservoir during the summer of 1883. 
In 1886 this Grebe made its appearance earlier than usual, and in extraordinary 
numbers, upon the various sheets of water in the counties, as, for instance, 
on Saddington and Thornton Reservoirs, and at Belvoir, from whence a pair 
were sent to the Aluseum on 7th Alay. The male weighed 2 lbs. 6 oz., and the 
stomachs of both contained nothing but a quantity of Grebe’s breast and side 
feathers, probably their own, some few seeds, sand, and a greenish oily substance, 
no doubt derived from fishes they had swallowed. Air. G. H. Storer informs 
me that he saw a fine pair on Cropstone Reservoir on 2nd August, 1887 ; 
also a pair on 21st Alay, 1888, together with a small flock of Tufted Ducks; 
and a pair on Groby Pool, on 28th June, 1888. 
Air. Alacaulay was the first to record its breeding in the county, at 
Saddington Reservoir, whence he received, in 1874, a male and female, and one 
young in the down. On 7th Alay, 1883, he shewed me a pair nesting at 
Saddington Reservoir, which brought off their young. In the spring of 1884 
a pair nested there and brought off four young, which remained until late in 
the summer, but finally left owing to the dry weather causing the water to 
become low, and leaving them no hiding-places. In 1885 the same or another 
pair nested again and laid five eggs, but, three of them being taken on 23rd May, 
the birds deserted the nest and left the water entirely. In 1886 several pairs 
nested at Saddington, where, on ,25th Alay, we found two nests containing 
one egg each, and, going again on 1st .Tune, I was enabled, by Air. Alacaulay’s 
permission, to get one of the nests — which then contained four eggs, — together 
