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 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE of that city, for preservation. It is now in the collection of the writer. Several other occur- rences of this grebe on the Avon are on record, all of which are in winter plumage. 201. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus (Linn.). This, as an autumn and winter visitor to our streams, is rather more frequent than either the crested or red-necked grebe. I have seen and examined specimens in winter plumage from the Severn, the Avon and the Arrow ; but it is not mentioned by Hastings. In its highly-ornamental and richly-coloured summer dress it is very rare, but two, male and female, in perfect breeding plumage, were ruthlessly shot at Wootton Warren some years ago, after they had commenced building a nest. They were sent for preservation to John Spicer of Warwick, where I saw them. Wootton Warren I would observe, though in Warwickshire, is only a mile from Oldberrow in Worcestershire. 202. Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigricollii (Brehm). A few instances of the occurrences of this grebe on the Avon in winter plumage have come to my knowledge ; and a most beautiful specimen in full summer dress was killed some years since at Wootton Warren, and sent to John Spicer of Warwick to be stuffed, in whose hands I saw it. 203. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes fluviatilis (Tunstall). From the frequent appearance of this almost everywhere common bird in the Worcester- shire streams and other waters, it might be expected that the nest would be often seen. Yet it is not so, for indeed it is but rarely found. I have never seen or heard of a nest on the Avon or its feeders, though I have an immature but full-grown young one which was taken in a net on the Arrow near Alces- ter. Mr. W. Edwards, of Malvern, has been more fortunate, and reports of the little grebe that it is 'common on New Pool, where it breeds.' 204. Storm-Petrel. Procellaria pelagica, Linn. This is another storm-driven straggler with us, and is of very rare occurrence. Three times only has it come within the knowledge of the writer during a period of more than fifty years. One was taken in the streets of Worcester, where it appeared on the wing. Another near Alcester, Warwickshire, also on the wing ; and the third was in the same county at Wormleighton, where it was first observed flying about. In no instance has it been found dead. 205. Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceanodroma leucorrhoa (Vieillot). Unlike the last-named species, the present bird has occurred not very infrequently in Worcestershire and in the adjoining counties, and in every instance has been found dead, generally after heavy gales from the south- west. I have the records of more than a dozen specimens which have been picked up dead in or near the valley of the Avon. The latest county record is of one at Alfrick in November, 1899. 206. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum (Temminck). This is one of the storm-driven castaways which are sometimes picked up exhausted after high winds in the autumn. Several are on record in the valley of the Avon. One was taken alive and unhurt in a field of wheat which was in stook (locally ' shuck ') at Lit- tleton, on August 27th, 1 89 1. Another had been similarly taken, also in a field of wheat in shuck, in the same month, August, 1888, near Stratford-on-Avon. It was sup- posed that in both these instances the birds had been driven forcibly against the shucks of wheat, and had fallen to the ground. Some other occurrences of this seafaring bird having been found exhausted either in or near our county are on record. 207. Fulmar. Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.) Hastings in a note gives the following respecting the fulmar : 'The fulmar,' says Mrs. Perrott, in a communication to our society, ' was found near the village of Hill, much exhausted, but from the kindness of a neighbour was kept alive to be forwarded to me. Unfortunately, the lad to whom it was entrusted, on receiving a bite from the bird, killed it. I however made a sketch.'