476 PODICIPEDID.E. 



Distribution. Throughout India, Ceylon, and Burma. This 

 species was obtained by Anderson at Momien in Yunnan, and 

 there are skins in the British Museum collection from Candahar, 

 ,and Fao at the mouth of the Euphrates. P. albipennis is distin- 

 guished from the common European Little Grebe, P. fluviatilis, by 

 'having the secondaries white throughout in adults, and by the black 

 on the chin and sides of the face being less extended. The 

 Philippine species is distinct, so the name P. pliilippemis cannot 

 be used. 



Habits, $c. This Grebe is a permanent resident throughout 

 India, wherever there are lakes, large marshes, or ponds of fresh- 

 water, though it leaves many tanks and marshes when they dry 

 up and returns in the rainy season. It is seen singly or in small 

 parties, diving after its food, which consists of small fish, Crustacea, 

 mollusca, and water insects. The breeding season is from July 

 to September in most parts of India. The nest is a mass of 

 weeds, usually floating, amongst rushes or other vegetation ; the 

 eggs are 4 or 5, elongate ovals, pure white at first, but discoloured 

 as incubation proceeds, and they measure about 1-39 by 0-99. 

 The parent birds always when leaving the eggs cover them with 

 wet weeds, as do other species of the genus. 



A single specimen of a peculiar whitish Grebe was obtained by 

 the late Mr. Mandelli from a lake in Native Sikhim. No other 

 skin has been obtained. At Mr. Mandelli's request I described 

 the bird as Podiceps albescens. The skin is by most ornithologists 

 who have examined it thought to be a partial albino of P. albipennis, 

 but, although chiefly w r hite, it has dark brown shaft-stripes on the 

 secondaries, and the chestnut collar is unlike that of any known 

 species. I add a description. 



Coloration. Broad forehead, sides of head anteriorly, including 

 the orbits and chin, black ; hind head and upper neck chestnut all 

 round, lower hind neck brownish ; remainder of plumage white, 

 except the primaries which are brown; feathers of the back, 

 scapulars, and secondaries with dark brown shaft-stripes. 



Bill and feet coloured as in P. albipennis. Wing 3*75 ; 

 -tarsus 1-3. 



