44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



COLUMBID/E. 



In noticing the Columbidce, with its disconnected webbed toes, 

 which are an exception to the order, always distinguished in 

 having the toes united by a membrane attached between them, 

 we find the birds when walking have to assume an erect position 

 owing to location of legs not allowing a balance, and as the 

 rudimentary wings forbid a terrestrial life the time is spent in an 

 aquatic one. The three species (all of genus Podiceps) are 

 principally, if not strictly, confined to southern latitudes and 

 Tasmania, and are what may be termed stationary birds, owing 

 to the non-development of wings. 



P. Nowe-Hollandi;e, Stephen, Black-throated Grebe, often 

 called Dabchick, as previously mentioned, is a vegetable feeder, 

 and in structure appearing not to differ from that of the Northern 

 Hemisphere, as seen in Great Britain, the law of representation 

 being here shown. Although particularly to be seen in inland 

 and coastal lagoons, they often venture from river mouths into 

 turbulent waters, where I have noticed them year after year off 

 Williamstown. The power of diving is great, and performed in a 

 second, as collectors know. 



P. nestor, Gould, Hoary-headed Grebe, is distinct from the 

 previous species, for during the spring season it is ornamented 

 with the mysterious head gear. Both nest and bird are built on 

 architecture somewhat of a new plan to us ; the former, twelve of 

 which I observed on the 17th of last month in two water- 

 filled depressions of the ground near Corowa, N.S.W., could be 

 briefly described as a nest of water plants floating on the surface 

 of two feet of water and anchored to rushes ; the limey-white egg 

 clutches comprised five and four, principally the former, and to 

 detect the same would require the lilting off of weeds from the 

 nest, placed there by the bird upon being disturbed, as a pro- 

 tective move. After the breeding season the plumes on the 

 head disappear. 



Regarding the power of flight, this order exhibits extremes — 

 in the Grebe the least of all, in the Frigate the greatest of the 

 class. 



In conclusion, we find male birds to be universally the most 

 highly coloured of the two, and generally larger than the females, 

 and with but a few exceptions do our species fly above the 

 equator. The Eastern Archipelago secures most of the Laridae 

 and half of the Pelecanidse. The Indian Ocean's want of islets 

 prohibits otherwise than coasting ; while the Southern Ocean, 

 as previously mentioned, is the stronghold. New Zealand is not 

 here taken into account, owing to its fauna being distinct from 

 that of our own. 



