PODICIPIDAE—GREBES.
275
Basin in Wanstead Park. I watched it repeatedly with a good telescope. It was
in fine plumage " (c.f. 40. i. 230). Early in Nov., 1888, one was killed near Man-
ningtree (Laver). Mr, Hope describes it as common in Essex, especially on
the Blackwater. A specimen taken alive near the Hospital at Colchester in 1879,
is preserved in the Bree Collection.
Great Crested Grebe : Podiceps cristatus. Locally, " Loon."
An uncommon visitor, chiefly to our coast, from autumn to spring.
I know of only one instance of its having bred in the county.
King says (20), " A fine specimen
in winter plumage was brought to
me last spring, [1838] which had
been shot on our river." One was
shot on the river at Chelmsford in
the autumn of 1879. Mr. Lister
observed a female " on the Wan-
stead Basin for several days in the
spring of 1883" (47. 97). Mr.
Hope, who has several Essex speci-
mens, describes it as common on the
Blackwater ; and it is " not rare at
Mersea in winter" (Laver). Mr.
F. Spalding saw a fine male, recently
killed, on a stall in Colchester Mar-
ket on Mar. 3, 1888. At Harwich,
Mr. Kerry describes it as " rather rare," He adds that a pair nested near Walton-
on-the-Naze during 1888. This is the only time I ever heard of it breeding in
the county, and the Rev, J. C. Atkinson informs me that he never heard of a case
of its breeding on the Essex Marshes, even in his early days. Mr. J. F. T. Wise-
man informs me that he never knew it breed in the Paglesham district.
Sclavonian Grebe : Podiceps auritus.
An uncommon winter visitor, chiefly to the coast, from autumn to
spring.
In the Collection at Audley End is an example shot there in 1838 (24). One
was shot near Maldon on Jan. 12th, 1876 (29. Jan. 22). In Nov., 1880, a speci-
men was taken at Southend (Travis—44. i. lxiii.). Mr. Hope, who has one killed
at Maldon in Feb., 1874, describes it as common in Essex, especially on the Black-
water.
Eared Grebe : Podiceps nigricollis.
An uncommon winter visitor.
Graves says (7. iii.) that the figure he gives " was executed from a fine male
bird, which, with the female, was shot on the coast of Essex in March." Mr.
Clarke mentions one (24), shot at Audley End on Jan 26, 1838. Dr. Bree
says (29. Apr. 11th, 1874) : " It is frequently killed in winter on the Essex
coast." One was shot at Walton-on-the-Naze on Feb. 2nd, 1875 (29. Feb. 13).
In 1875 two specimens were shot on the Stour at Harwich on Dec. 3rd and
10th respectively (Kerry—34. 4827). A young male in poor condition was taken
on the lake in Debden Park after an hour's chase on Oct. 15th, 1881, after a very
T 2