AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 



ORDER VI. — PODICIPEDIDIFORMES. 



F. 24. PODICIPEDIDAE (3), GREBES, 25 sp.— 5(2)A., 



8(2)0., 6(0)P., 5(1)E., 6(0)Nc, 11(7)N1. 

 2 29 Black-throated Grebe (Little), Dabchick (e), White- 

 15 bellied Diver (e), Podiceps novae-hollandiae, Java, 



N.G., A., N. Cal., =vt. Eur. Little Grebe. 



Stat. c. lagoons 

 Upper blackish-brown; white patch on wing; under silvery- 

 gray; throat, side-face black (summer), brown 

 (winter); beautiful fur-like plumage; lobed toes; f., 

 sim. Small fish, snails, insects. 



9.5 



about any other division of the animal kingdom. Thus you 

 will, I hope, find that you know far more about the subject than 

 you at first thought. 



In the next Order, the Sixth, there are three Australian birds. 

 They are called Grebes. Bird names often reflect some habit, 

 e.g., Scratchers, Cooers. So Grebes are often called Divers. 

 But the Divers of the ornithologist are Northern Hemisphere 

 birds, placed in the next family (25). 



There is a widespread tradition to the effect that Grebes wait 

 for the flash of the cap, and then dive before the bullet can reach 

 them. They are, indeed, remarkably active in the water, but 

 are absurd on land. Their legs are set so far back that it is 

 almost impossible for them to walk. Their toes are not webbed, 

 but are broadly lobed. 



