BIRDS Newbury, on March 16, 1810, and kept alive some days (' Ornith. Bercheria '). Mr. Wallis saw another in a bird-stuffer's shop in the same town which had been knocked down by a whip as it rose from a ditch ; this was on December 21, 1877 (Zool. 1888, p. 135). One from our county was recorded in the Standard on December 17, 1892, by the Rev. W. O. Waste of Wantage. A young bird was found near Faringdon on October 25, 1893, and given to Mr. Cornish. 206. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus cialtSy Linn. It is somewhat curious that this bird, which breeds in Iceland, should so often be taken on our river, whereas the red-throated diver sel- dom visits us, and I have no record of the black-throated species, although both these birds breed no further north than Scotland. Dr. Lamb mentions having met with three specimens of the great northern diver one at Pangbourne and one at Maidenhead, January, 1 794, and one at Newbury, January, 1810 (' Ornith. Bercheria ') ; and again, under the name of C. immtr (the young of the above), one shot at Maidenhead, January, 1794. An exceedingly fine specimen was killed on Virginia Water, February 4, 1851, exhibited at the Exhibition of that year, and presented by the Prince Consort to the Eton College Museum, where I have seen it. Another, killed on the Thames near Temple Island in 1865, is in the possession of Mr. Mackenzie at Fawley Court. Dr. Palmer mentions one shot at Ilsley in 187 5, and adds, ' Mr. Allder has had three or four to stuff, killed in the neighbourhood during the last ten years ' (' Birds of Newbury and District '). 207. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septen- trianalis, Linn. A casual and rare visitor to the Thames. It is not mentioned by Dr. Lamb, but Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Buck, p. 1 34) says ' some are killed on the river nearly every winter,' and even gives the local name of ' silver grebe.' He mentions birds taken on the river at Windsor, Reading, Hungerford, Maidenhead, etc., but without particulars, and the only recent capture that has come under my notice was one killed on the lake at Maiden Earley by the late Mr. John Hargreaves about 1880, and now in the possession of his son, Mr. R. Hargreaves. 208. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus (Linn.). The increase of this bird as a breeding species, not only in this county but throughout Great Britain, is worthy of note. It is a lake-loving species, and breeds on Virginia Water, Great Meadow Pond, and on other large sheets of water in this and the neigh- bouring counties. It is seldom seen on the river except in winter. One was shot at Hungerford in February, 1808 ('Ornith. Ber- cheria)', and it has been taken on the Thames at Windsor. A pair, male and female, were shot on the Sonning meadows about February 16 and 22, 1901 (Bradshaw in lit.); in 1883 one was shot at Bulmershe ; and two were taken in winter on the Thames near Wallingford (W. Newton in lit.) ; but by far the most interesting fact to note is that a pair this year (1901) nested at a certain spot near Earley. 209. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert). One was shot at Burghfield, May, 1792 ('Ornith. Bercheria'). 210. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus (Linn.). An occasional visitor, generally noticed in winter or early spring. During the winter of 1858 one was shot near Windsor, another on January 17, 1861, and a third in 1865, close to Cookham (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 133). A pair were shot at Newbury, February 20, 1870 (W. H. Herbert, Newbury and District Field Club, p. 98). In the Fauna and Flora of Radley and Neighbourhood mention is made of another shot at Sandford in No- vember, 1891. 211. Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigricollis (Brehm). In June, 1847, one was captured on the Thames near Sandford in full summer plumage (Messrs. Matthews, Zool. 1849, p. 2623). 212. Little Grebe. Podicipes fluviatilis (Tun- stall). Resident and very common. The increase of this little diver during the past twenty years is remarkable. It must be very pro- ductive, as I have seen the eggs from the second week in April to July 26. Four is the usual complement, but I have seen one nest containing seven eggs. 213. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum (Temminck). This bird and the next two species are sometimes taken in our county after severe weather, generally found dead or in an exhausted condition. Dr. Palmer (' Birds of Newbury and District') mentions a Manx shearwater picked up in a field, 165
