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species ; but this deficiency I was able to supply when at home

on leave in October, 1897, a young bird having been acquired by

the London Zoological Gardens. This specimen, as my own had

been, was very savage, drawing blood freely from my hands

when I attempted to make it move. Although inclined merely

to squat and shove itself along, it could and did walk ; but with

reluctance, and for a short distance only, standing up on its toes

and waddling along very clumsily. It frequently used its wings

to aid it when running, these being full-grown ; though the head

was still covered with variegated down, already indicating the

form of the ornamental plumage on this part.


Some years ago, also in the London Zoological Gardens, I

was able to observe the specimen of the large American Grebe,

Podiceps (. PEchmophorus ) major , which the Society then possessed.

This also seemed able to advance only a few steps at a time—

waddling along a little way, and then flopping down on its

breast—although it had been some time in the gardens, and was

presumably in good health and not cramped or frightened ; the

latter conditions obtaining to a certain extent in the case of

the Great Crested Grebe above alluded to, for this was better on

its legs the second time I saw it.


Podiceps nigricollis. The Eared Grebe.


On February nth, 1897, I got a male individual of this

species from the Calcutta Bazaar, a sufficiently remarkable

locality for it. This bird was weakly, and I found it dead on

the third day after I obtained it, though it had fed freely on

small prawns and fish. It was gentle and did not peck. Though

I had it for at least one night in a cage, I found no “ castings ; ”

yet, as in the case of the large species, I twice saw it eat one of

its own feathers. It walked freely, several yards at a time, in an

ei'ect position, as stated by Dresser, who correctly figures it and

other Grebes in this attitude. It had the bill lead-grey, dark 011

the ridge down to the nostrils, and whitish at the base and on

the under surface of the mandible. The iris was reddish orange,

with a yellowish-white inner ring, and the feet olive-leaden,

dark on the under surface of the toes and the outer side of the

shank.


The specimen has been stuffed in the standing attitude for

the Bird gallery in the Indian Museum.


Podiceps fluviatilis. The European Dabchick.


I once observed the gait of this bird on land, in the case

of a specimen confined in the aviary in the Fish-House at the

London Zoological Gardens. It walked on its toes in the



