BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 205 



Male and Female (non-breeding plumage). — Head destitute of 

 long hair-like feathers; rest of plumage practically similar to 

 summer coat. 



Young. — Similar to non-breeding plumage of adults. 



Nest. — Very similar to that of the previous species. 



Eggs. — Clutch four to five usually ; elliptical in shape ; texture 

 fine; surface glossy; colour greenish-white, obscured by a thin 

 limj- coating. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : — (1) 39 x 28, (2) 

 38 X 27.0, (3) 38.5 x 28, (4) 39 x 27. 



Breeding Season. — October to January. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South- West and North- West Australia, and South 

 Queensland. 



Observations. — This species is fairly plentiful in different parts 

 of the island, both on tidal rivers and inland waters. I have 

 records of it from a number of widely separated localities. Like 

 other: members of the genus, it is very shy, quickly taking flight 

 at the slightest semblance of danger. 



*TIPPET GREBE 



(Podicipcs cristatus, Linn.) 



Male and Female (breeding plumage). — Forehead and crown 

 black; feathers on each side of the crown elongate, and forming 

 a long double crest ; feathers on the upper part of the neck elongate, 

 forming a ruff ; lower part of hind-neck deep ashy-brown ; back black- 

 ish-brown; " lesser wing coverts forming a wide white band along 

 the edge of the wing " ; humeral feathers white ; primaries blackish . 

 lores, space in front of the eye, cheeks, chin, and throat white ; 

 tinged with rufous, becoming rich chestnut on the long feathers on 

 the hinder part of the head; rest of under surface silvery- white, 

 save the sides and flanks, which are dark ash ; irides crimson ; 

 culmen blackish, base of lower mandible dull carmine, tip pale 

 horn colour; legs and feet yellowish-brown. Dimensions in mm. : 

 —Length, 530; bill, 50; wing, 172; tarsus, 54. 



Male and Female {non-breeding plumage). — Head, neck, and 

 back dark ashy-brown ; sides and flanks similar ; rest of plumage 

 similar to breeding plumage. 



Young. — Similar to above, save that the head and neck are 

 striped with dark ash-brown. 



Yomig in down. — " General colour of the upper parts whitish- 

 brown, shading into white on the head and neck; longitudinally 

 striped with deep smoky-brown; rather large patch of the latter 

 colour on each side of the crown, immediately behind the bare I'ed 

 patch on the forehead; base of the fore-neck and rest of the 

 under part white " (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. — Composed of aquatic herbage, and so constructed that 



