92 The Great Crested Grebe Enquiry and Census of 1931. 
unattached adult there for several hours ; but it did not show any sign 
of having nested — just fishing and sleeping. 
Eshton Tarn, near Gargrave. Another apparently excellent nesting 
site. (There was fairly good evidence that a pair had nested — or had 
attempted to nest here — for the first time, in 1932 1 ). 
Thorpe Cuttings, near Selby. Mr. Jas. Kendall considers this to 
be the most suitable site in that neighbourhood. It is of quite a large 
area, with a proportion of reeds and cover. Yet in the Bar Ion Cuttings 
near by, the Railway Company have dumped hundreds of tons of rubbish 
into them during the last twelve months (1930 and 1931). Yet the 
Grebes have increased there ! ! 
I would like to draw attention to the great chain of reservoirs on the 
Lancashire border, on which the Great Crested Grebe never nests, and 
rarely visits. 
Stray Notes. 
It will be gleaned from the foregoing notes that the increase and 
extension of the Great Crested Grebe in the West Riding commenced 
in 1890, or ten years after the passing of the Wild Birds’ Protection 
Act. Although it is doubtful if the latter had very much effect on 
their increase. It was probably more due to the decrease by death of 
the numerous gunners, and also by the growth of public opinion against 
the killing of everything that was rare or beautiful. 
Since 1890 the increase and colonization has gone steadily on ; 
although it has been somewhat spasmodic, some waters actually decreas- 
ing, but on the whole the increase has been general. 
The Great Crested Grebe visits the West Riding chiefly for nesting 
purposes. It arrives from the end of February to April, and departs 
about September ; but its movements are largely governed by weather 
conditions. Any reports between these dates in the colder season, 
are those of passing birds, and are of little value. 
My report on double broods is of little value because I was unable 
to follow it up, and most of my friends and correspondents appeared 
to have very little interest in it, as it occurs at the wane of the season. 
But I believe it to be unusual in Yorkshire. I can only report three 
cases, viz., one at Fairburn, and two at Bring Houses, and I am unable 
to say that in any of these cases the data was perfect. 
As to the food of the Great Crested Grebe, I don’t think that it refuses 
any species of fish that it can swal low . But I have always found that it had 
a partiality for Roach. Whether that is because Roach swim in shoals, 
and in still waters, and are an easy quarry to catch, is the chief reason. 
As in ‘ British Birds ’ I have given a full list of those assisted me 
in this inquiry, it is unnecessary to repeat them. But I would like to 
add the name of Mr. H. Shorney, of Bring Houses, York, from whom 
I have never heard directly, but no less than three of our mutual friends 
have sent me reports of his painstaking and valuable nature notes on 
this species. 
On small waters this species vigorously drives intruders away, but 
on larger lakes, such as Harewood, regularly harbour two pairs, one at 
each end of the lake. At Fairburn there does not appear to be any rule 
at all. They are ail mixed up, with several nests often within a few 
yards of each other. 
Supplementary Notes. 
In the remarks and discussion after this paper was read, several 
members pointed out that although a few pairs nest a fiarly high altitude, 
such as at Malham Tarn (1200 feet a.s.c.) the Great Crested Grebe is really 
a bird of the low lands, and if such apparently suitable waters as 
Semmerwater and Malham Tarn would probably contain several nesting 
pairs if they were situated nearer to sea level. — H.B.B. 
l The Naturalist , 1932, p. 347. 
The Naturalist 
