the Trans-Vaal Territory. 



303 



my middle in water and mud in a very extensive lagoon on the 

 borders of the Vaal River. It kept constantly diving, and did 

 not attempt to fly ; but so quick were its motions, remaining not 

 a second above water, that I had the greatest difficulty in shoot- 

 ing it. The belly was extraordinarily large, and the stomach 

 contained water-snails. 



The irides were brown, the upper mandible black, the lower 

 pale, tarsi and feet dusky ash-colour. 



65. (L. 691.) PoDicEPs CRisTATUs (Linn.). Great Crested 

 Grebe. 



This bird was brought to me alive one day in April by a 

 CafFre; he stated that he had chased it amongst the reeds in 

 shallow water and so caught it. It is the first specimen I have 

 met with in the Trans-Vaal. 



Male, in breeding-dress : — Iris crimson ; bill dark pink, with 

 the gape and ridge dusky ; tarsi and feet dusky, the latter much 

 marked with pale greenish yellow. 



[I lately noticed (Ibis, 1868, p. 263) a small and short-billed 

 specimen of P. nigricollis, which I had received from Trans-Vaal. 

 Since then I have examined two specimens from the Cape Colony 

 of very similar dimensions ; and it is interesting to find the like 

 peculiarity in the specimen of P. cristatus mentioned in the 

 above note by Mr. Ayres. It is certainly the smallest example 

 of this species which has come under my notice ; and I append 

 its measurements, together with those of a British specimen for 

 comparison, and also of a specimen of intermediate size obtained 

 in Walvisch Bay, Damara Land, by the late Mr. Andersson. 



—J. H. G.] 



66. (L. 693.) PoDicEPs minor (Gmel.). Little Grebe. 

 Male, in breeding- dress : — Iris and eyelid scarlet, tarsi and 

 feet dusky yellowish-green, bill black. 



