I002 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



ORDER -PYQOPODBS: DIVINQ = BIRDS. 



FAMILY— PODIClPEDIDyE : GllEBES. 



735. PODICIPES NOV.E HULLANDl^, StcplieUS. (667) 



BLACK-THROATED GREBE. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 8i. 



Reference.— C2.\. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 519. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — *Gould : Birds of Australia (1848), 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 514 (1865); Campbell: Southern 

 Science Record (1SS3) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 34S (1889). 



Geograithical Distribution.— AvLsiva.]ia. in general and Tasmania; 

 also New Guinea and Java; New Caledonia. 



Jest. — A floating structui-e, composed usually of aquatic weeds piled 

 up in rounded form, the top being almost level with the siuface of the 

 water (in. some instances the eggs are in the water), and stranded among 

 rushes or submerged fallen trees, &c., or anywhere in flooded country. 

 Soiiietimes these nests are placed near or amongst those of the large 

 Tippet Grebe. 



Efjgt. — Clutch, four to six usually, seven to eight rarely; elliptical 

 in shape ; textm-e of shell fine ; surface glossy ; coloiu', a thin, dull 

 white coating of lime obscures a pale bluish-white shell, and becomes 

 darker or of a shiny raw sienna shade as incubation proceeds. Dimen- 

 sions in inches of a proper clutch: (1) 1-48 x TO, (2) 1-44 x TO, 

 (3) 1-4 X 1-03, (4) 1-34 X 1-03. 



Observations. — The little. Black-throated Grebe may be found in 

 swamps and lagoons throughout the Continent and Tasmania, and is 

 probably the most common of the three species of Australian Podicipes, 

 as the birds are technically termed. 



The bird. like the Hoaiy -headed Grebe, is likewise famiUarly known 

 as a " dabchick, " and, although almost wingless, it is astonishing how 

 quickly the bird can get vindcr water, and show a " clean pair of heels ' 

 to the pot-hunter the instant he pulls the trigger. 



In the " Catalogue " of the Australian Museum, Mr. North states 

 tliat, " while sitting, the female covers herself over with the outer 

 poitions of the nest, her head and neck alone being visible ; when 

 leaving the nest she covers her eggs over and dives at once, reappearing 

 about ten or fifteen yards away. During 1 873 many nests of this species 

 were procured in a single afternoon from the Albert Park L:tke, near 

 Mclbovu-ne." 



Mr. Harry Barnard (Queensland) has watched the Black-throated 

 Grebe concealing its eggs in the manner just described Iw'forc darting 

 into the water. 



*No dimensions given. 



