Goosander close to the shore seeking smooth
water, as I have done the Red-breasted Merganser. The greater number of
Red-breasted Mergansers killed in the Channel Islands which I have seen
have been either females or males that had not assumed the full adult
plumage--in fact, in that state of plumage in which they are the "Dun
Diver" of Bewick; full-plumaged adult males do, however, occur as well
as females and young males, or males in a state of change.

Professor Ansted includes the Red-breasted Merganser in his list, but
only marks it as occurring in Guernsey. There are two specimens in the
Museum--a male in full plumage and a female or young male.

147. SMEW. _Mergus albellus_, Linnaeus. French, "Harle piette," "Harle
etoile," "Petit harle huppe."--The Smew can only be considered an
occasional accidental autumnal visitant, and the few that do occur are
generally either females, young males, or males still in a state of
change. I do not know of any instance in which a full-plumaged male has
occurred in the Channel Islands.

It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey only. There are two specimens in the Museum, both females or
immature males, or, at all events, males which have not begun to assume
their proper plumage after the summer change.

148. LITTLE GREBE. _Podiceps minor_, Gmelin. French, "Grebe
castagneux."--The Little Grebe, or Dabchick, occurs occasionally in the
Islands, mostly as an autumnal or winter visitant. I have occasionally
seen freshly-killed ones hanging up in the market in November; I have,
however, never seen it alive or shot it in the Islands. Mr. Couch,
writing to me in December, 1876, told me that Mr. De Putron had told him
that Little Grebes had bred in his pond in the Vale the summer before,
and Mr. De Putron afterwards confirmed this; they can only breed there
occasionally, however, as there were certainly none breeding there in
1878, when I was there.

The Little Grebe is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked by
him as occurring in Guernsey only. There are two specimens in the Museum
and some eggs, which were said to be Guernsey, and probably were so,
perhaps from the Vale Pond.

149. EARED GREBE. _Podiceps nigricollis_, Sundeval. French, "Grebe
oreillard."--The Eared Grebe is an occasional autumnal visitant to the
Islands, remaining on till the winter; it is never very numerous; in
some years, however, it appears to visit the Isla