VAGATORES. 823 



Bill blackish, pale at the base ; irides red-brown ; legs greenish- 

 black on the outside, livid tinged with fleshy within. Length 

 8 to 9 inches ; wing 4 ; bill at front | ; tarsus 1^ ; middle toe 1|. 



Young birds want the chesnut-red on the neck, which is mostly 

 white, the brown above is paler, and the chin and throat are pure 

 white. 



The common Grebe of India is generally considered to be iden- 

 tical with the Dabchick of Britain, but Bonaparte and some other 

 Ornithologists separate several allied races, among others the 

 Indian one. Sundevall particularly noticed its difference from the 

 European bird. It appears always to have a greater extent of 

 white on the wing than specimens from England. 



The Indian Dabchick is exceedingly abundant in all parts of 

 India, and, in spite of its short wings, appears to wander about a 

 great deal. There is a considerable colony of these birds on the lake 

 at Ootacamund, which is an artificial piece of water ; they must con- 

 sequently have been attracted to the spot when flying at a consider- 

 able height. This bird is found in all lakes, tanks, rivers, and even 

 small ponds, in small parties, occasionally congregating into larger 

 flocks. It feeds on small fish, Crustacea, larvse of water insects, &c., 

 diving with ease and rapidity, and remaining long under water. It 

 forms a large nest of grass and weeds, sometimes floating, at other 

 times attached to growing reeds, and occasionally at the edge of 

 the water, and lays from five to eight greenish-white eggs. Burgess 

 noted that there was a good deal of artificial heat in the nests, 

 from the quantity of partly decomposing grass, &c. Often these 

 nests are crowded together, several almost touching each other. 



Some Grebes from the Oceanic region are separated by Bona- 

 parte as Rollandia, and others from the Australian region as 

 FoUoceplialus ; whilst certain American species are classed under 

 Silbeocyclus. 



Tribe. Vagatores, Blyth. 



Syn. Longipetmes, Cuv. Laridee of some. 



Wings long; tail short and rounded, or long and cuneate, or 

 forked ; hallux free, or wanting ; bill hooked at the tip, or simply 

 pointed, smooth edged. 



