From the last-named period I ceased taking particular notes of their occurrence; but in 1845 I heard of one having, some years previously, been shot on Lough Achery, a few miles from Hillsborough; where the one only had been observed. In the last week of December 1847, a young bird of the year was shot on Lough Neagh; on the 15th of April 1849, an adult female, on Acton Lake, county of Armagh; and on the 30th of March, 1850, a bird in full adult plumage, on Lough Neagh ;—the crest on this individual was so large and fine, that I considered it a male (the female bears the same appendage), which it was found to be on dissection. On the 13th of May the same year, an adult male was shot on this lake, near Lurgan.

One striking fact is learned from the preceding data, namely, that all the birds excepting one were killed upon fresh-water. Audubon, who gives a very good account of this species, remarks, that he never observed it near the sea-coast in North America.* During and after severe weather in winter, it is met with, sparingly, on the coast of Ireland.

The following notes bear witness to native specimens in Dublin.-March 1833. I saw one in Mr. Massey's collection at the Pigeon-house Fort. Mr. W. S. Wall, bird-preserver, stated that within the last few years he had received not less than 20 specimens, which were killed in various parts of Ireland. May 1837. He has now a bird in adult plumage, which was purchased early in April last, in Dublin market. I saw, in Mr. Warren's collection, two adult birds, in full nuptial garb, which were shot in the preceding month of March, by the gamekeeper at Knockdrin Castle, near Mullingar, the seat of Sir Richard Levinge, Bart. On dissection, they proved to be male and female: their plumage is similar, both having the ruff or crest. In this collection were three more of these birds, but wanting the ruff: one of them was shot in Kingstown Harbour, near Dublin. One only of these five specimens is bare of feathers on the abdomen, and it is in full summer plumage. All of the others are abundantly furnished

*Orn. Biog.,' vol. iii. p. 595.

with them, and exhibit no indication of any having been eaten, though all the grebes of this species opened by me had the stomach either wholly or partially filled with their own feathers. In March 1838, several great-crested grebes were brought on sale to Dublin. One has been shot on the sea, near the island of Ireland's Eye. In Mr. Watters' collection there is an immature bird, obtained fresh in February 1848 (said to have been killed on a river in Kildare), and one in adult summer plumage, shot on the 29th of July, 1849. In the very severe weather of January, 1850, several were sent to the metropolis.

This grebe has been procured during winter in Wexford Harbour,* and more than once on the coast of Waterford ;—at Dungarvan, one ("between two and three years old," as described by Jenyns) was killed about the 1st of March, 1838.† Immature birds only, obtained in Cork Harbour, are noticed in the 'Fauna' of that county. On the 16th of January, 1849, one of these grebes was shot there below Cove, when in company with some divers; and on the 5th of February a flock of five was seen on the sea, at the back of Cove Island. On the coast of Kerry it is occasionally procured.§ The Rev. T. Knox, of Toomavara (Tipperary), and previously resident at Killaloe, on the Shannon, wrote to me, on the 24th of November,1836, that several great-crested grebes had, at different periods, come under his notice. Three of them (one in adult summer, the others in immature or winter, plumage) were, in July 1837, kindly sent by Mr. Knox for my inspection.

In 1840, I learned from a person resident in Connemara, that this species is found "in winter" on Loughs Corrib and Mask.|| Mr.R.J. Montgomery, visiting the west of Ireland in February 1850, heard from fowlers that "loons" are in considerable numbers on those two lakes. He went in pursuit of them, but was unable to approach within shot, or near enough to determine the species, which most probably is the great-crested grebe. He was told that they are more numerous in summer than in winter. Their nests or

* Major T. Walker.

Mr. R. Davis, jun.

Mr. R. Warren, jun.

§ Mr. R. Chute.

Mr. W. M'Calla.

eggs had not been seen by any of the persons questioned respecting them. Two of these grebes, shot about the river Shannon or Lough Derg, on the 2nd of March, 1847, were sent to the Belfast Museum by the late Mr. J. J. Marshall, of Portumna. The one was in full summer plumage, and the other in the next stage to maturity. The lower plumage of the adult was greatly more shining and silky in appearance than that of the other. Dissection showed both to be males.

Breeding Haunts.--Under this heading, such of the instances as have already been mentioned that relate exclusively to the breeding season will be repeated.

The great-crested grebe is known to nidify in lakes situated in a few of the Irish counties, and probably does so in a number of them. In the summer of 1834, one was shot at a small lake in Hillsborough Park (Down), where the species is said to breed annually. The gamekeeper, before firing at the bird, was struck by the singular appearance of its back, and afterwards found, to his surprise, that this was caused by its having a young one under each wing.* An ornithologist visiting this park on the 10th of June, 1845, saw one of these birds on the lake, and was told by the keeper that its mate was probably on her nest, as, when not there, the pair are generally together. As a second bird had not been observed for a few days, it was concluded that the female was engaged in incubation. A pair only breeds here. None have been seen in any winter, excepting in that of 1847-48, during which two birds are said to have remained. No matter how many are produced here, never more than one pair returned to breed. Portion of a nest of the preceding year was brought to me from this lake in June 1849, and proved to be wholly composed of Chara. The eggs are usually three in number.

Adult birds in full summer plumage, shot on the 26th of April, 1842, and in the first week of the same month in 1845, came under my notice; the former obtained in the neighbourhood

* Pennant was aware of its thus protecting its brood: and remarked-“It is a careful nurse of its young, being observed to feed them most assiduously, commonly with small eels; and when its infant brood are tired, will carry them either on its back or under its wings" (p. 420).

of Banbridge, and the latter at a small lake near Ballynahinch; both localities in the county of Down, where there is little doubt the birds were about to nidify. On the 26th of August, 1840, a a bird in full adult plumage was taken in a net set for fish, in Lough Neagh; in July 1844, an old male was shot there; and another on the 30th of March, 1850-circumstances implying its breeding about that great lake. An old sportsman has frequently seen these birds when shooting and fishing there, as well as on other Irish lakes ;-often, he remarks, after they dived, he never saw them come up again.* From Loughgall, county of Armagh, I have seen adult birds obtained on the 9th of June, 1836, on the 28th of March and 27th of April, 1838, and presumed they had a nesting place there. At Castle Dillon, in the same county, I am assured that a pair annually builds.† In Loughs Eaghish and Kilcorm, county of Monaghan, they are stated to do so annually; and also at Glasslough. A bird in full plumage shot about the 1st of April, 1835, on one of the lakes of the county Cavan, indicates a breeding-haunt there. From an old pair having been shot in March 1837, on the lake at Knockdrin Castle, Westmeath, this locality may be added to the others.

The great-crested grebe is said to breed in some of the lakes of Wales, and in those of four of the English counties.|| Sir Wm. Jardine remarks-" Although Mr. Heysham has recorded the occurrence of the bird in Cumberland, we have never been so fortunate as to meet with it on the border during summer. It may be considered, indeed, there and in Scotland, rather as a winter visitant, and that in no great abundance."¶ The species is not included in Mr. St. John's list of the birds of Sutherland, nor in the last-published one of those of Orkney, as appearing at any season of the year. If it does not breed in Scotland, this can hardly be owing to the northern position of the country, as it nidifies farther north, both in Europe and America.

* June 1850. Since the above was put in type, the Rev. G. Robinson has (in the present month) found five nests of this grebe, each containing eggs, within a limited space on the borders of Lough Neagh. Molrooken is the name applied to it there. + Gamekeeper at Caledon, 1850. Mr. R. Evatt, 1845.

Yarrell;-who has added one county to those named by Pennant.

¶ 'Brit. Birds,' vol. iv. p. 202.

*

* *

The name of tippet grebe was bestowed on this species in consequence of its plumage being used by ladies in the now exploded adornments bearing that name, and consequently the poor birds were much persecuted. But, though tippets are to be numbered with the things that were, we have the indubitable authority of my friend Mr. Yarrell, that grebe-skins are still "in great request for making into muffs for ladies, or, more frequently, to cut up into narrow strips as trimming for pelisses." Pennant (in 1776), writing of their "beautiful skins," mentions that "the under side of them being drest with the feathers on, are made into muffs and tippets; each bird sells for about fourteen shillings, * as high a price as those that come from Geneva: * * its skin is out of season about February, losing then its bright colour: and in the breeding-time its breast is almost bare." The Lake of Geneva has always been a great resort of this species, and in the admirable memoir of M. Necker on the birds of the neighbourhood of the city of that name, the Podiceps cristatus is fully descanted on. Towards the end of October numbers of young birds arrive there, and become objects of the chase. The mode of proceeding is fully described (p. 85), and it is stated that many boats are occupied during winter in the pursuit of the grebe, which is often very lucrative, as for each bird the furriers give from six to eight francs. Mr. Yarrell, too, (p. 301) publishes an account of grebe-hunting on the Lake of Geneva, communicated to him by an English gentleman who had been witness to the sport. In 1846, I was informed by M. Alex. P. Prevost of Geneva, that the bird had then become very scarce on the lake. Mr. Selby (p. 395) briefly describes the chase of one of these grebes by Sir William Jardine and himself, on a lake in the vicinity of Rotterdam ;" an hour and a half's severe exer

*They are always on sale in Dublin for ladies' cuffs, for a pair of which the skin of one bird is requisite. Seeing three pair exhibited in a furrier's window there in July 1850, I inquired the price, which was only 7s. 6d. a pair. They were stated to have been brought from Switzerland.

† Pennant describes the specics as two, under the names of tippet and greatcrested grebe.

Mémoires Soc. Phys. and d'Hist. Nat. Genève, vol. ii. (1823).