NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 1005 



.V(•^■^ — -Composed of aquatic weeds, and stranded so tliat the top 

 is nearly level mth the surface of the water, amongst rashes, &c., 

 usually in large lagoons. Occasionally eight or ten nests may bo found 

 near each other. 



Egga. — Clutch, five to seven ; elliptic-ally inclined in .shape ; texture 

 of shell somewhat fine ; colour, a dull, white, limy coating obsciu-es a 

 greenish-wliite shell. The outside covering, however, soon becomes 

 stained, and as incubation proceeds goes through various shades of 

 polished, vellowish-browii to very dark olive-brown. Dimensions in 

 inches of odd pairs: A (1) 2-06 x 1-46, (T) 205 x 1-4; B (1) 2-02 x 1-36, 

 (2) 2-01 X 1-37. 



Ohservatiom. — The Tippet Grebe, which is of strikingly odd appear- 

 ance, is found in localities suitable to its mode of li\aug throughout 

 Australia. It is also foimd in Tasmania and New Zealand, and is 

 identical with the great Crested Grebe of Europe. An ornithological 

 conundrum — How has this peculiar species, devoid of almost any flying 

 power, found its way to the antipodes? The Ven. Canon Tristram 

 collected an adult male in the Sea of Galilee. 



The ornamental frill, or collarette, from which the bird derives its 

 name, is only worn during the breeding season, and by both sexes. 

 The frill is black on the outer edge, and rich chestnut-colour in the 

 centre, gradually passing into the buffy-white of the face. The rest of 

 the plumage may be described as: — Upper surface, dark-brown; under 

 stu'face, silvery-white. It is a large bird, measuring about 24 inches in 

 length, including a straight and sharply-pointed bill 2| inches. Tlic feet 

 are ciu'iously shaped, by reason of the flattened, lobated toes, Tlaese 

 birds are rare divers, and are occasionally caught in fishermen's nets. 



Although usually an inland bird, large flocks of Tippet Grebes are 

 sometimes seen On the w^aters of Port Phillip. Occasionally I have 

 noticed odd paii's together with Hoary -headed Grebes gracefully riding 

 the waves near the shipping in Hobson's Bay. 



The late Mr. T. H. Potts, who was a good field naturalist, and a 

 very descriptive writer, observed that in New Zealand the Tippet Grebe 

 swims low in the water, " with a certain air of demni-e gi-avitv, " and 

 that during incubation it maintains an upright posture, holding its long 

 neck erect, which at a distance resembles a stick more than anything 

 living. 



Mr. W. T. L. Travers also enjoyed favourable opportunities of 

 observing the habits of this great Grebe in New Zealand. According 

 to the testimony of both Mr. Potts and Mr. Travers, the Grebe in that 

 country only lays three eggs. In Australia the clutch varies from five 

 to seven eggs. Mr. Travers states : — " Both male and female Grebes 

 assist in the labour of incubation, although I believe the chief pai't 

 devolves vipon the female, and that she is only relieved by her partner 

 for the pui-pose of enabling her to feed. Before the actual work of 

 incubation commences, the eggs are usually covered with pond weed 

 during the absence of the birds from the nest, but afterwards the nest 

 is seldom, if ever, left by both birds, except under unusual circumstances. 



