if a Coots or Water-hen’s nest be not tenanted by its owner, it usually supplies free quarters to a Water- 
Snake.” (Ibis, vol. ii. p. 159.) 
rims it will be seen that Northern Africa is the great stronghold of this species. It also occurs in Asia 
Minor, the Caucasus, Oriental Russia, Siberia, and China, as proved by its being enumerated in Mr. Swinhoe’s 
‘ List of the Birds of Amoy.’ The reader will now be able to form his own judgment as to the countries this 
bird frequents. In England and Ireland its visits are uncertain, though not unfrequent. In its winter dress it 
very much resembles the Sclavonian Grebe ; but it may at all times be distinguished from that bird by its 
more diminutive size, and by the upward curvature of the bill. In their summer dress they are so very 
different that a glance at the two Plates on which they are represented will be sufficient to show that they 
are quite distinct. 
Mr. Gatcombe, of Plymouth, to whom I am indebted for many Interesting notes respecting our native 
birds. Informs me that he has killed immature birds near that town, and, many years since, an old male in 
fidl summer plumage. I find also among my MSS. a note from Mr. Robert Rising, of Yarmouth in Norfolk. 
This note was kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Leadbeater. It relates to a very fine adult example in 
full dress which had been sent to him to be mounted, near the end of August 1863, and is as follows : — “ The 
Grebe was killed on Horsey Mere, on the 6 th of May last, with two others, and a fourth on the day follow- 
ing. These birds (two males and two females) had been seen continually on the mere through the winter 
and up to the very time they were shot, and would most likely have been killed long before, had they not 
been luckily mistaken for Dabcbicks. I much regret I did not give instructions for the reeds and shores 
round the mere to be well searched after the birds were killed, as I can scarcely resist the conviction that 
they had already nested there, as the water had become so entirely their habitat during all this time.” 
Mr. Stevenson, of Norwich, states that “the habits of this species appear to be almost exactly the reverse 
of the Sclavonian, being frequently obtained in its summer plumage during April and May, hut rarely met 
with in its winter dress ; indeed a single bird shot at Lynn, in November 1857, is the only record, in my 
notes for the last twelve years, of its appearance at the latter season. Messrs. Gurney and Fisher, writing 
in 1846, observe, ‘In the month of April last no less than five specimens of the Eared Grebe were killed 
within a week at Wroxham and other places in the county ; and it is somewhat remarkable that these have 
all proved, upon dissection, to be male birds.’ A fine specimen, in full breeding-plumage, was shot at Sutton 
in April 1849 ; and in the ‘Zoologist’ for 1851 (pp. 3116, 3175) I find two notices of Eared Grebes, from 
the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, being purchased in the London markets. The first, killed on the 14th 
of April of that year, was sent up to London with some Crested Grebes ; and a fine male and female, 
shot on the l7th, were purchased by a London dealer, who also received another pair in May 1852 from 
the same locality ; and the females in both instances contained eggs, about the size of small marbles. In 
1854, about the 18th of May, a very beautiful specimen was killed at either Burgh or Filby, which is now 
in the collection of the Rev. C. Lucas. In 1861 a pair, assuming summer plumage, were shot at Kimberley, 
the seat of Lord Wodehoiise, on the 30th of March, and on the 24th of April of the same year a perfect 
example at Martham, and one in half change on Hickling Broad. The following summer, however, was 
even more remarkable for the number of these birds obtained in full summer plumage. One of these 
females is said to have contained a quantity of eggs ; and there is little doubt, from their late appearance 
on our broads in summer, that this Grebe, like the Sclavonian, would occasionally remain to breed if 
undisturbed ; but unfortunately, though little observed in the sombre garb of winter, the very brilliancy of 
their nuptial plumage ensures instant persecution.” 
In summer the adult male has the head and neck black ; from behind the eye, spreading over the 
ear-coverts, a triangular patch of silky light-chestnut-coloured feathers ; all the upper surface and wings 
dark brown ; the secondaries white, but scarcely perceptible when the wing is closed ; breast and under 
surface shining silvery white ; flanks chestnut ; bill black 5 irides and eyelash red ; legs dark green 
externally, lighter within. 
In winter the crown of the head is dark brown, the other parts of the head and chin pure white ; back of 
the neck and upper surface dark brown. 
The Plate represents a male and a female of the size of life. The plant is the Flowering Rush (^Butomiis 
umbellatus). 
