184 
COLYMBIM. 
THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 
Podicejos rubricollis, Gmel. (sp.) 
Colymbus ,, „ 
Is only known as an extremely rare winter visitant. 
It is the rarest of the grebes in Ireland. The first recorded 
specimen that came under my inspection was an immature one 
procured late in the autumn of 1831 (by Dr. J. D. Marsh all) , from 
the captain of a vessel, who shot it on the coast of Down :* it is 
preserved in the Belfast Museum.t One which I have seen in 
collection of Mr. Warren, of Dublin, was noted as sent to the 
metropolis from the county of Wexford, on the 24th of Eebruary, 
1838; but as the note was not made until some time after the 
receipt of the bird, possibly it may be the same individual that a 
correspondent informed me had been found on the shore near 
Arklow, on the 1st of that month. J It was said to be a female, 
and to agree with Jenyns* description of the “ young at the age 
of two years.” One was shot in December 1842, at the mouth, 
of the Glengariff river, Bantry Bay, by Mr. G. Jackson, game- 
keeper, and was the only individual he ever met with. In the 
collection of Mr. John Watters, jun., Dublin, I have seen a spe- 
cimen of this grebe, stated to have been shot on a lake at Sandy- 
mount, near that city, on the 24th of January, 1848. One only 
of these birds has come under my examination in a recent state. 
It was shot in Belfast Bay on the 23rd of Eebruary, 1850, where 
it had been observed for the few preceding days, and was alone 
all the time. The following notes were made on it a few hours 
after death, and previous to its being skinned. 
* Zoolog. Proceedings, 1835, p. 79. 
f In Templeton’s catalogue, one of these birds is stated to have been “ caught in 
the spring of 1797, at Beers Bridge, county Down;” but probably the little grebe 
(P. minor ) in its red-necked summer plumage is meant, as I have received specimens 
from that locality, where it breeds. 
t Mr. II. H. Dombrain. 
