BIRDS ber, 1869, and another at Street Court. An im- mature specimen was captured near Hereford and taken alive to Mr. J. B. Pilley on 28 September, 1900. 199. Puffin. Fraiercuk arctica (Linn). Locally, Sea Parrot, Coulterneb, Tammy Norie. A scarce visitor from the sea, occurring after a violent gale. The Hereford Museum specimen was killed with a whip on the road between Woolhope and Hereford in June, 1876. A young male was brought to Ash- down alive in November, 1893, by Mr. Flower of Aconbury, who says it was discovered on the highway half disabled by the storm. He found that it would readily eat bread, but owing to its injured condition no possibility existed of keeping it alive for any length of time. The eyes of this specimen were flat and dark-coloured and the legs and toes had a delicate pink tint, quite different from the adult bird with its curi- ous grey eyes and orange-coloured feet (Ashdown). It should not be forgotten that in autumn this bird moults the homy-frontal sheath of its bill, and the bill is consequently different in winter. 200. Great Northern Diver. Linn. Colymbus gkcialis. Locally, Great Speckled Diver, Great Doucker, Immer, Immer Diver. Of very rare occurrence. A female was shot on the Wye, near Ross, in 1867, and one was taken at Peterchurch in 1880. Two specimens are in the Hereford Museum, one having been found at Clifford and the other shot at Holme Lacy. 201. Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arcticus, lAnn. Locally, Lumme, Northern Doucker, Speckled Loon. The only county record of this bird is an example which was caught alive by some choir boys at Kinnersley in the winter of 189 1. It was purchased by the Rev. F. Andrews, the rector, and was in his collection. 202. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus seftentrionalis, Linn. Locally, Rain Goose, Cobble, Spratborer, Spratoon, Speckled Diver. Occasionally seen on the Wye, particularly in the neighbourhood of Ross. The three specimens in the Hereford Museum were taken as follows : — One in the winter of 1894-5, and the other two were shot on the Weir Cliff, Ross, In the winter of 1879-80. 203. Great Crested Grebe. Podkipes cristatus (Linn.). Locally, Cargoose, Loon, Greater Loon, Tippet Grebe, Gaunt, Mulroken. An occasional visitor, as may be expected from its breeding freely in Llangorse Lake, Breconshire. The Hereford M useum specimen was shot near Ross in 1 8 5 2 . Two fine examples were shot at Shobdon in 1880, and a young bird was killed on the Wye at Wilton in December, 1881. One was sent by Mr. W. Blake to Ashdown, killed in the early part of 1893, pre- sumably near Ross. In 1893 the same gentleman, vvriting from Ross, says that at the end of the pre- vious March a male specimen was brought to him for identification. It had almost completed its spring plumage, its crest being nearly developed and was obtained on the Wye near Backney Bridge. In March, 1900, a male was shot on the Wye near Hereford. 204. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigena (Bod- daert). A rare visitor. A specimen was shot on the Wye at Cubberley in October, 1881 ; another was shot at the Weir End, Ross, in January, 1889. Mr. Blake of Ross sent in a very good example shot near Ross on 7 February, 1895, in winter plumage, the rufous colouring of the neck being supplanted by a greyish tint. The bird is now in Mr. Blake's collection. 205. Slavonian or Horned Grebe. Podicipes aurilus (Linn.). Locally, Dusky Grebe. A very rare visitor. The Hereford Museum specimen is labelled 'Hereford, 1 849 'and was no doubt obtained there (Bull). There are no particulars respecting it. On 14 February, 1895, Mr. Sanders of Street Court, Kingsland, shot a male bird there and sent it to Ashdown for preservation. 206. Black-necked or Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigri- collis (C. L. Brehm). A very rare visitor, and has twice occurred in the county. The Hereford Museum specimen was shot on the Wye near Stretton Sugwas in 1 879. On 14 April, 1903, Mr. Frank James saw one on the Burcott Pool ; he was well acquainted with the bird, and on the occasion in question he got his boys to drive it to within 20 yards of him for the purpose of identifi- cation. 207. Little Grebe. Podicipes Jluviatilis (Tunstall). Locally, Dabchick, Didapper, Small Ducker, Black Chin, Grebe. A common resident, breeding in the rivers and ponds in the county. One was picked up dead by Mr. Sanders at Kingsland in February, 1895, that had been choked by a bullhead. The remarkable fea- ture in this specimen was the summer plumage assumed so early in the year. It was set up for the Hereford Museum, Mr. Sanders having kindly pre- sented it (Ashdown). 208. Storm Petrel. Procelkria pelagica, Linn. Locally, Mother Carey's Chicken, Devil's Bird, Witches. Has occurred in a few instances, one being shot at Shobdon in 1867, and another killed at Foy in 1877. 209. Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceanodroma leu- corrhoa (Vieillot). Another little sea bird which has twice occurred in the county. The specimen in the Hereford Museum was picked up at Dewsall in the winter of 1880, and a male was picked up dead in the county in 1905. Another was shot on the Wye near the borders of the county in Breconshire, 15 October, 1877, by Colonel Wood's keeper. This bird, like the last named, is never seen inland, except after a violent gale, when it is usually picked up dead. 147
