disturbed, they pass with little or no noise to attract observation.
They are mostly seen on the water; the form of
the whole bird being that of an elongated cone, is admirably
adapted for diving ; and their habits can only be observed by
those who live in the vicinity of their favourite haunts.
The Great Crested Grebe, the largest of the genus, is
resident all the year in several parts of this country, which
afford extensive surfaces of water, partly overgrown with
reeds and other luxuriant aquatic vegetation, in which they
find the required security. Some pairs breed, and remain
all the year, or by far the greater part of it, on some of the
lakes of Wales, such as Llangorse, in Breconshire ; on the
meres of Shropshire and Cheshire ; on the broads of Norfolk
; and, previous to drainage, in the fens of Lincolnshire,
where in Pennant’s time the birds went by the name
of ‘ Gaunts.’ In Yorkshire about half a dozen pairs breed
regularly at Hornsea Mere. Northwards it becomes rarer,
and if seen, it is generally on the coast, when severe
weather has frozen the inland sheets of fresh water. Under
such circumstances birds in summer plumage are sometimes
obtained, but immature examples are far more numerous.
These remarks equally apply to Scotland, where as yet it
has not been found breeding; and on the west coast it
is decidedly rare at all seasons. As a straggler it has
occurred in Shetland.
In Ireland this species is occasionally obtained in winter
on the coast and on the fresh-water lakes; and in summer
it breeds on several of the latter. The Kev. G. Robinson
has found many nests of this bird on the borders of Lough
Neagh, where the name ‘ Molrooken ’ is applied to the bird ;
and Major E. A. Butler has furnished the Editor with the
following interesting extracts from his notes referring to
Portmore Lough, adjoining the former :—
“ 16tli May, 1883. A nest containing two fresh eggs,
and two more nests with much incubated eggs.
“ 18th May. Same lough, a nest with three fresh eggs.
The nests, which are mere pads of wet sedge floating on
the surface of the water, were placed a few yards inside
a bed of short bulrushes growing round the edge of the
lough, and as the boat we were in approached, the old birds
were observed diving away from the spot, which led us to
search for the eggs. In every instance there was a second
nest within a few yards of the one with eggs, apparently
used as a resting-place, or look-out station, by the cock-bird.
The eggs we took, although quite fresh, were as usual very
dirty and stained, but after being washed they became quite
white and good specimens, with a chalky surface much resembling
a cormorant’s egg.
“ 29th May. Found that both of the above-mentioned
pair of birds had laid again in the old nests, one and two
eggs respectively, and I found two new nests containing
two and four eggs, all of which were quite fresh. In most
instances the eggs were carefully covered over with weeds,
and three of the nests were within ten yards of each other,
each having as usual a second nest, or pad of sedge, close
by, for the male to rest upon.
“ 8th June. Found eighteen more fresh eggs, doubtless
laid for the most part by the birds whose nests I robbed on
the 29th May. No nests contained more than four eggs,
and, as previously mentioned, several nests were found
together—i,e., in the same strip of rush, within a few yards
of each other. One nest contained two much incubated
eggs, and one quite fresh.
“ The note may be described as a harsh monosyllabic croak,
but I only heard it uttered when the birds were in the
rushes near the nests, probably by the male from his lookout
station. They fly well, and I saw them often on the
wing flying about the lough at a considerable height, like
wild ducks.”
The Author was favoured by the Rev. Richard Lubbock
with notes on the habits of the Great Crested Grebe as
observed on the broads of Norfolk, where it is called a
Loon, and is liable to persecution for the beauty of its
plumage, and because it is considered to be injurious
to fish. A pair or two are to be found on most of the
extensive pools during spring, summer, and autumn ; but