206 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



the top is nearly on a level with the surface of the water ; placed 

 among rushes, &c., in large lagoons. 



Eggs. Clutch five to seven; somewhat elliptical in shape; 

 texture fairly fine ; surface glossy ; colour greenish-white ; obscured 

 by a limy coating. Dimensions in mm. of odd examples : (1) 

 50 x 34, (2) 50.25 x 35, (3) 50 x 34.5. 



Breeding Season. November and December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, Australia in general ; 

 also New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Central and Southern Europe. 



Observations. Although fairly well distributed, the Tippet 

 Grebe, which is a very handsome species when in full breeding 

 plumage, does not appear to be as plentiful as the preceding 

 species. Very much the same localities are frequented. Its 

 general habits and shy, retiring disposition are very similar to those 

 of the other species. Of this bird in New Zealand, Mr. W. T. L. 

 Travers writes: " Both the male and female Grebe assist in the 

 labour of incubation, although I believe that the chief part of the 

 task devolves upon the female, and that she is only relieved by 

 her partner for .the purpose of enabling her to feed. Before tho 

 actual work of incubation commences the eggs are usually covered 

 with pond-weed during the absence of the birds from the nest ; but 

 afterwards the nest is but seldom, if ever, left by both except 

 under unusual circumstances." 



Henry Seebohm says : ' ' Its food is entirely procured in the 

 water, and consists of water-beetles and other aquatic insects, 

 small fish, small frogs, and molluscs. The seeds and tender 

 shoots of aquatic plants are also to be found in its stomach, but, 

 instead of small stones or" gravel, numbers of its own feathers 

 plucked from the ventral region are mixed with its food. It is not 

 known that this curious habit, which is more or less common to 

 all the Grebes, is intended to assist digestion, but it has been 

 remarked by many ornithologists in widely different localities." 



ORDER IMPENNES : PENGUINS. 



*CKESTED PENGUIN 

 (Catarrhactes chrysocome, Forst.) 



Male. "Crown, sides of the head, throat, and hind part of 

 neck black ; rest of the upper surface bluish-black, each feather 

 having a narrow central streak of pale blue from the base of the 

 upper mandible on each side; broad line of pale golden-yellow 

 passes over the eyes and is continued beyond in a crest of fine- 

 pointed feathers extending nearly 2 inches beyond the head ; the 

 black feathers of the crown between these side crests are 

 lengthened acuminate and slightly rigid; upper surface of the 

 flippers glossy bluish-black, the feathers, which are lanceolate and 



