G I! E A T CRESTED OR E I! I •',.
POMCEl'S CRISTJTUS.
Tin; bri-cdingdiauiits of the Great Crested Grebe appear to be now restricted to a few nf the central, soul hern,
and eastern enmities of England : considering tin' persecution that tliis curious bird has undergone from one
cause or nuolher, it is a wonder tlint survivors are still to be found. Though its quarters are rapidly becoming
contracted by drainage and other innovations, the broads in tbe eastern counties vvitli their evleusive readbed*
are likely to alfurd a safe asylum fur many years to come; but tbe demand for plumes in former da; s,
and latterly Ibe rage for ogg-colieotiug, coupled with the scanty protection all'urdcd by proprietors in luauy
districts, render it, unlikely that the sjHinrs will increase. During vvinler, even should the weather prove
mild, the majority of these birds take their departure from their summer-haunts aud resort, for the most
part singly, to tbe tidal rivers or llic open sea. On the lochs and rivers of the Highlands 1 did not recognize
a single specimen ; though during n residence of two years iu East Lothian a few pairs and solitary blrdl
were not uufrcqucntly met with oil' Gullane, and also in Aherbidy Hay iu tin1 firth of Forth.
The old birds doubtless take their young into the water almost immediately after hatching; on one
occasion only have 1 met with a juvenile on the nest, the fact being referred to iu the following extracts
from my notes:—"June ¿(1, 1871. Started early for the broad, to examine a nest discovered a lew days
liefure, containing four eggs, apparently un the point of hatching. On reaching the sput, it was ascertained
that only two were left, the empty shells plainly indicating that a couple of tbe juveniles had already
takeu their departure. Though doubtless near at hand, it was useless to search for the youngsters, owing
to a strong breeze that milled the water aud kept the reeds in constant motion.
"Juno 27- Down at tbe Loons'" nest at daybreak. The two eggs were still uuhatched, though one
helpless mite was calling distinctly inside the partially broken shell. As an obi bird, aci qiaiiicd by I he
juveniles that had already taken their departure, could be heard close by, the patch uf reeds in which
they had taken refuge was surrounded by three punts; aud the party having been driven backwards and
forwards, ihe young were al length seemed in a l.inding-nct, lie' old birds following Ihem to within a couple
of yards of the boat's side. As soon as I he capture was elfected we retired from the neighbourhood of the nest,
and look up our quarters in an adjoining reed-hcl, so that the bird might return to batch the remaining eggs.
Some Lhiee or lour hours later, having discussed our breakfast and indulged in a rest, I lie spol was again
carefully approached : so noiselessly did the punt glide through Ihe roadway cut Ibrough the reeds, thai the
female did not dive from her nest till the craft was within half a doxen yards. The juvenile whose querulous
nolis had previously attracted attention was now released from the shell; no change, however, could be detected
iu ihe remaining egg. Having now secured lis many specimens as were needed, libs egg w a- left, and ilnmg i
ihe old birds were seen au hour later some distance from the nest, the young one was eventually brought out.''
Being frequently watched iu order to observe the various changes undergone by juvuuiles of this