188 
COLYMBIM. 
killed at Clogtieen.* One “ in the plumage of the swimming 
bird, figured in YarrelFs work” (immature) was shot in the last 
week of May 1843, on the canal near Blennerville, county Kerry.! 
Its being in this plumage at such an advanced period of the sum- 
mer leads to the conclusion that the species does not reach 
maturity in one year. 
Specimens of this grebe were obtained in Dublin market, or 
sent to the city for preservation, as follows. One in the winter 
of 1842-43 ? — now in the University Museum. One, said to 
have been shot on the Wexford coast, 10th of February, 1847, 
during severe frost. One in February, and another in October, 
1848. The last of which I have been informed, was killed on 
December 19, 1849 : all of these are in the plumage of the 
dusky grebe. J 
Not one of the above specimens seen by myself, or described 
to me by others, was in adult summer plumage. All were, indeed, 
what are considered by Mr. Selby to be the young of the year. 
It will be remarked that most of them were obtained in the 
last great Anatida winter of 1837-38, and that they occurred 
from the north to the south of the island. The still more rare 
red-necked and eared grebes were also procured that season. 
This grebe is of more frequent occurrence in England and 
Scotland than in Ireland. Sir William Jardine considers it the 
most common species, next to the little grebe, in Scotland, and 
remarks — “ Specimens occur during the whole winter in the 
Edinburgh markets, and we have frequently shot it in the river 
Annan during winter : it never attempted to fly, but was not 
nearly so watchful as the little grebe, diving, but coming up 
again in sight, and allowing itself to be approached within shot. 
The little grebe, on diving, immediately seeks some cover, and is 
not again seen.”|| The Sclavonian grebe is said to be, “ though 
in small numbers, a constant inhabitant in Orkney,”^ and to 
* Mr. R. Davis, jun. f Mr. R. Chute. 
X I have seen two of those alluded to in Mr. Watters’ collection. 
|j e Brit. Birds,’ vol. iv. p. 207. % e Hist. Nat. Oread.’ (1848) p. 88. 
