THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 47 



and brown, with white belly and pale yellow bill 

 and legs. The Gannets of the Southern seas, 

 the Malagash (5. capensis), of the Cape, and the 

 Australian Gannet (5. senator), of Australasia, are 

 much like our bird, but have black in the tail. 



Grebes {Podicipedidcp)i 



Diagnosis. — Diving birds with lohed feet and no stiff 

 tail-feathers. 



Size.— From that of a mallard to that of a quail, 

 approximately. 



¥oRM.— Bill straight, varying in length and thickness ; 

 gape reaching to beneath front of eye. Feet 

 at end of body, with three front toes, the outer 

 one longest, and a small hind-toe, all lobed and with 

 flat, blunt nails, that of the middle toe saw-edged 

 inside. Wings rather short, very compactly folded. 

 Body short, neck long ; tail-quills wanting. 



Plumage and Colouration.— Feathering of peculiarly 

 silky texture, brown or blackish above, satiny- 

 white below in most cases. No sexual difference, 

 but usually a seasonal change. First plumage 

 like winter dress of adults. The quills are shed 

 simultaneously in the moult. 



Young.— Active, but for the first few days carried 

 on the back of the parents, and fed by them for 

 some time. Down close, revealing the shape, which 

 is much like that of the adult ; it has numerous 

 longitudinal light and dark stripes. The wings 

 do not fledge till the body is feathered, and the 

 head remains downy even then. 



Nest.— A mass of wet vegetable matter deposited on 

 water-plants or tussocks projecting from the water, 

 or even on boughs just above or touching it. The 



