388 PODICIPEDID.E. 



I'roiii Broken Hill, South-western New South Wales, Dr. \V. Macgilli\ray wrote as 

 follows: — " Mr. \V. McLennan and I visited Silistria Lake, on Topar Stetion, about fifty miles 

 north-east from Broken Hill, on the loth November, 1912. We found that the Hoary-headed 

 Grebes ( PoJicrps poliocephdliis), wh'icU were in numbers on the lake, were just commencing; to 

 build one or two nests on the weeds. We again visited this lake on the gth December, when 

 we found numbers of Grebe's nests on the floating water weed ; the majority of the nests 

 contained three eggs, though a few contained four or five. The eggs were, in nearly every 

 instance covered over with weed, and upon wading out to a group of nests it was interesting to 

 see the birds dragging up the weed and covering the eggs before leaving them, a proceeding 

 which was very rapidly accomplished. They nest late in the season, because the surface water 

 in these lakes is then quite warm. The nests were mere accumulations of floating weed, 

 with a central depression to contain the eggs, and like all floating nests they sink soon after the 

 young hatch-out and leave the nest, the process of decay causing the weed to lose its buoyancy. 

 In one instance a Hoary-headed Grebe was found t(j liave taken possession of a White-headed 

 Stilt's nest." 



M:sT and Ki;n.s of Tllh; HOAUV UKAnKIi liUKIlK. 



The accompanying figure is reproduced from a photograph taken by Dr. Macgillivray, in 

 November, 1912, the weedy covering being first removed by the operator, leaving the eggs 

 exposed to view. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland wrote me from iNIelbomiie, \'ictoria ; — " I have seen Hoary-lieaded 

 Grebe ( Poducps ncstor) on many of the Victorian swamps, but they are more numerous in the 

 Kiverina District, New South Wales. In a large swamp near Lake Way, Western Australia, 

 I saw old birds with their broods following them in August, 1896." 



From Broome Hill, South-western Australia, Mr. Tom Carter wrote: — "The Hoary- 

 headed Grebe (Poducps lui/ur) occurred sparingly on inland pools in North-western Australia. 

 While sailing near Point Cloates. during tiie drought prevailing in February, 1897, I saw one 

 of these birds swimming in the sea, about half a mile from land, and steering close to it one of 

 the native crew dived in and caught it. Another specimen was caught in the sea, close to 

 my house, on the 19th February, 1900, by some natives who were swimming. I have seen many 

 on the Swan River at Perth, but none at Broome Hill." 



