PODICIPEDID^ PODICIPES 511 



throughout the country in suitable localities, though not hitherto 

 recognized from Natal, Rhodesia, or the interior of German South- 

 west Africa. 



The following are recorded localities : Cape Colony Cape 

 division (S. A. Mus.), Simonstown (Novara Exped.), Zoetendals 

 Vlei, in Bredasdorp, breeding (Layard), Knysna, August, September 

 (S. A. Mus.), Orange River, near Aliwal North, April (Whitehead) ; 

 Orange River Colony Vredeforfc Road (B. Hamilton), near Mafe- 

 teng in Basutoland (Murray) ; Transvaal Pretoria (Bt. Mus.), near 

 Johannesburg (Haagner), Potchefstroom, April, September (Ayres). 



Habits. The Great Crested Grebe is an inhabitant of lakes, 

 lagoons and reedy vleis, where it swims and dives with great 

 facility ; it is generally found in small parties of from three to four 

 individuals and is very wary ; on the least alarm it endeavours to 

 escape by diving; Andersson often found it asleep on the water, 

 floating very deep, so that very little of its body showed. Though 

 awkward on land it is a good flyer, circling round at a considerable 

 height in the air, and though apparently a resident in South Africa, 

 showing considerable power of migration elsewhere. It feeds on 

 small fishes, Crustacea and mollusca, while Andersson found chiefly 

 sea grass in the stomachs of individuals examined by him. 



Layard met with the Crested Grebe breeding in considerable 

 numbers in Zoetendals vlei ; the nests, built of flat sedge, were 

 floating on the water, and the eggs, usually three in number, were 

 almost invariably covered over with wet waterweed by the parent 

 before leaving them ; six or eight were found breeding in company. 

 The eggs are chalky white with a greenish tinge, owing to the green 

 lining membrane, when first laid, but soon become brown and 

 discoloured ; they are nearly regular ovals and measure about 

 2-20 x 1-40. 



810. Podicipes nigricollis. Eared Grebe. 



Fodiceps nigricollis, Brclim, Handb. Vo/j. Deutschl. p. 963 (1831) ; 

 Ayrcs and Gnrnci/, Ibis, 1868, p. 263; 1869, p. 303; Gnrncy, in 

 Andersson' s B. DamaraL p. 346 (1872) ; Dresser, B. Eur. viii, p. 651, 

 pi. 632 (1878) : Sharpc, ed. Layard >s B. S. Afr. p. 786 (1884'. 



Podiceps auritus (ncc Li tut.) Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 374 (1867). 



Podicipes nigricollis, Grant, Cat. B. M. xxvi, p. 532 (1898). 



Colymbus nigricollis. Beichenow, Voy. Afr. i, p. 17 (1900). 



