on the Indian Podicipedidcz. 69


lustre. The black neck and wings also showed metallic green

reflections. . . . The birds never travelled far under water, but

dived in a limited area, as Dabchicks do. The consecutive dives

of one bird, which we timed, were 25, 10, 25, 24, 9, 14, 12, 25,

9, and 23 seconds respectively."



3. PODICIPES ALBIPENNIS, Sharpe.

The Indian Little Grebe or Dabchick.


Podiceps philippensis. Jerdou, B. I., iii, p. 822 ; Podiceps minor,

Hume, N. 6 s E. of hid. B. p. 646 ; id Cat. No. 975 ; Barnes,

Birds of Bombay, p. 420 ; id four. Bomb. N. H. S. i, p. 61 ;

Podiceps fluviatilis, Legge, Birds of Ceylon, pp.1059, 1222;

Podiceps albescens, Mandelli, Blan. *S\ F. v, p. 486 ; Tachybap-

tes fluviatilis apud Oates, B. B. ii, p. 441 ; id in Humes' N.

<Sj* E., 2nd ed. iii, p. 401 ; Tachybaptes albipennis, Sharpe,

Bull, B. O. C. iv, p. iv (1894) ; id Ibis, 1895, p. 139 ; Podicipes

minor, apud Sharpe, Yark. Miss. Aves. p. 148 ; Podicipes flu-

viatilis, Dresser, Ma?i. Pal. Birds, vol. ii, id Podicipes fluvia-

tilis sup. spec, albipennis ; Podicipes albipennis, Blan. F. B.

I. B. vol. iv. p. 475, id Podicipes albescens, p. 476 ; Podicipes

cape?isis, Ogilvie - Grant, Cat. B. B. M. ; Finn, Zool. 1902, p.

300.


The Indian Dabchick or Little Grebe differs very little

from its European ally P . fluviatilis and by many ornithologists

is only regarded as sub-specifically distinct.


Blauford says : "P. albipennis is distinguished ... by

having the secondaries white throughout in adults, and by the

black on the chin and sides of the face being less extended."

In habits, mode of nesting, etc. it does not differ one wit

from P. fluviatilis. In the cold season it is to be found in small

parties on all large f heels and tanks. In the summer it migrates

locally, and the paired birds resort for breeding purposes to

almost anywhere where there is sufficient water and shelter, being

then found among paddy fields, quite small ponds, or even 011

moderate sized ditches. It is thoroughly aquatic and is rarely

seen on the wing. Like all other members of its family it is a

■"professional" diver, and on the slightest approach of danger



