788 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
note: “I have repeatedly shot this diminutive Grebe at Lake 
N’gami, Otjikoto, Omanbondé, and Walwich Bay, but have nowhere 
found it abundant, except in the vleys of the Ondonga country, 
where it breeds in vast numbers. Its eggs are from four to six 
in number and of a dirty white. The nest is a mass of weeds and 
grasses, and lies on the water. The eggs are always found covered 
over, often several inches deep. Out of the numerous nests I have 
taken and seen, in no one instance (except where the nest contained 
only one or two eggs) did I find the eggs uncovered ; and the 
covering is so complete and regular that it is not possible that it ean 
be the work of an instant or performed whilst the bird was making 
a hurried retreat from its nest.” Mr. Monteiro says it is abundant 
in the fresh-water lakes of Angola, and Senor Anchieta has procured 
it at Benguela and Mossamedes. 
Upper parts, top of head, chin, and back of neck, greenish-black ; 
rest of neck deep-rufous; breast brownish-grey ; flanks the same, 
tinged with rufous; under parts satiny-white; all the plumage 
lustrous, and very dense, more like hair than feathers ; eyebrow and 
tip of bill, clear horn-coloured ; base bright green. Length, 10"; 
wing, 4”; tail spurious. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pl. 633. 
a 
