PODICEPS MINOR. 787 
weed. The eggs, from three to five in number, are frequently much 
discoloured from being half immersed in water; but this does not 
appear in any way to injure them or to prevent them from hatching 
in the usual way. The young birds are beautiful little downy crea- 
tures, striped brown and black on the back and white and black on 
the chin and throat, their bodies being pure white.” Mr. Andersson 
says: “The only locality in Damara Land in which I have met 
with this species is Walwich Bay, where, however, it is a rare bird.” 
A single example was procured by the late Mr. Sala at Katumbella, 
in Benguela. 
General colour greyish-black, tinged on the sides with rufous ; 
beneath, from the centre of the breast to the vent, satiny white ; 
behind the eye, over the ear, a tuft of longish ‘ reddish-yellow 
feathers; patch on the wing white. Length, 13’; wing, 5’; tail 
spurious. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pl. 682. 
768. Popicrrs minor, D. Little Grebe. 
Not uncommon throughout the colony, frequenting still “reaches” 
(here called ‘‘ zeekoe gaten,” seacow-holes in the rivers) and all the 
vleys. Young birds have been brought to us. We never knew the 
nest to have been taken here; but in Ceylon we have found those of 
an allied species (P. philippensis), constructed of sedge, and closely 
resembling those of P. cristatus in all but size—the eggs pointed at 
both ends, and chalky- white. 
Mr. Rickard has met with it both at Port Elizabeth and East 
London, and Captain Trevelyan records it as common near King- 
williamstown. In Natal, writes Mr. Ayres, “these Grebes are 
common in the lagoons, and are occasionally found in the rocky 
streams inland ; they are almost always in pairs, and appear to be 
somewhat pugnacious and fond of chasing each other about. The 
stomachs of three which I shot all contained insects, but no signs of 
fish, although the waters were swarming with them.” Majors Butler 
and Feilden and Captain Reid state that it was common on all the 
larger vleys near Newcastle in October and November. Mr. Ayres 
has sent skins from Natal, and Mr. Barratt also states that he 
saw it near Potchefstroom and at the mouth of the Mooi River. 
Mr. Frank Oates procured specimens at the Tchakani Vley in May, 
and at Tamasancha in December. Mr, Andersson gives the following 
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