NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 291 



The eggs, six to seven in number, are quite unlike any other duck- 

 vgg known to me, being nearly spherical, measuring T78 inches in 

 length by I '66 in breadth. 



The shell is compact but not particularly smooth in texture, and is 

 of a dull whitish colour, generally a good deal sullied. 



The only egg I have was given me by the Curator of' the Indian 

 Museum, Calcutta. 



961&W.—THE MARBLED DUCK. 



Chaulelasmus angustirostris, Menetr. 



I had some small duck eggs given to me years ago by the Curator 

 of the Frere Hall Museum. At the time he said they belonged to 

 the Blue-winged Teal. They came from the Mekran Coast, together 

 with eggs of the Crab Plover. Colonel Butler, who received similar 

 eggs about the same time, was of opinion that they were undoubted 

 eggs of the Marbled Duck, consequently mine must be the same. 



They are of a creamy-white colour, but are much soiled, and the 

 lapse of years has not improved their appearance. 



975.— THE LITTLE GREBE. 



The Dabchick. 

 Podiceps tumor, Lin. 



The Little Grebe is found everywhere, wherever it can find water 

 deep enough to swim in. It breeds towards the end of the rains, 

 making a large floating or semi-floating nest, composed of aquatic 

 weeds and rushes ; it is a mere pad or mass, with a depression in. 

 the centre for the eggs, which are usually five in number, and 

 when fresh laid, pure white in colour, but they soon become sullied, 

 and when incubated are often of a deep smoky brown, This is 

 owing to the birds covering their eggs with wet weeds whenever 

 they leave the nest. In fact, so inveterate is the habit, it seems 

 impossible to prevent them from doing it. Many pairs breed annually 

 on St. Mary's tank, Poona ; the Commissariat Store compound forms 

 one side of the tank, and I have often crept noiselessly up in the 

 early morning, just opposite to where I knew there was a nest, with 

 the intention to surprise the sitting bird and make her leave the eggn 



