276 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
severe storm. Its stomach contained a mass of feathers (presumably its own) and
the remains of small fish (44. ii. lxxx.). Mr. Hope, who has one in winter plu-
mage, killed near Harwich, describes it as common on the Blackwater. It " is
not rare at Mersea in winter " (Laver). The Rev. J. C. Atkinson says (36. 151),
" I knew of one instance in Essex some thirty years ago in which one of these birds
was taken from a Water Rat's hole, into which it had been seen to creep for
shelter." A specimen shot at Walton on Feb. 2nd, 1875, is now in the possession
of Mr. Dorling of that place.
Little Grebe or Dabchick: Tachybaptes fluviatilis. (Podiceps
minor, Yarrell). Locally, "Dobchick," (pl. "Dobchicken.")
Resident and widely distributed, but not common, and seldom
found breeding except on or near the coast.
Round Sudbury in 1858, King
described it (20) as "common," and
Mr. Grubb says (39) it " comes in
winter " to his land there. In 1843,
Parsons wrote (23. 364) that it was
then
" a constant resident, either upon
the small broads or fleets on the
marshes of this neighbourhood, or
little grebes, 1/9. of the creeks and arms of the sea
intersecting them, keeping during the autumnal and winter months in small flocks
* * * The nests are placed in the thick water-plants or reeds growing upon the
sides of the marshy waters."
He adds some interesting remarks upon their habits. Lieut. Legge found two
nests near Shoebury in 1865 (34. 603). A pair (probably breeding) were seen on
the lake at Skreens in June, 1877, and a pair were seen on the Chelmer at Broom-
field on Dec, 1878, during hard weather. In the summer of 1880, one (doubtless
breeding) was killed at Audley End, and during the latter part of Jan. and the
greater part of Feb., 1881, a party of ten remained on the Cam close to Audley
End. On March 12th, 1882, I saw four on the adjacent brick-ponds. I again
saw one at the same place at the end of April, when it was probably breeding, but
I could find no nest. To Wanstead Park, Mr. Lister says (40. ix. 64) they " come
in the spring and breed, but appear to leave us in late summer." Mr. Buxton
says (47. 97) it is " frequently seen in the spring in the lower and open ponds
in Wanstead Park, but it is said not to remain to breed. I observed a pair on my
own pond in the spring of 1884, and I believe them to have had a nest." Round
Orsett, Grays, and Corringham, Mr. Sackett says it is " not uncommon where there
is enough water." He informs me of one nest built in a pool of water at the
bottom of a chalk-pit at Grays, in which these birds actually bred during 1888,
although there was on the north side a lime-kiln and chalk-quarries in active
working, on the east a rifle range in almost daily use, on the south a street, and
on the west a high road.