1897.] F. Finn — Notes on various species of Grebes. 729 



them at first most vigorously. I fancy, however, that this was merely 

 juvenile mischief, for ifc became more peaceable as it grew older. 



When I placed the Great Crested Grebe above alluded to on one 

 occasion on the tank, its small relative hastily approached, and diving 

 below, could be easily seen through the clear water to come and peck 

 the large bird's toe, rising to the surface out of reach. 



lb hunted insects and crustaceans when at large, as well as fish, 

 and appreciated a varied diet of these when in captivity. It often came 

 out on to a piece of brickwork, especially at first, to plume itself, and 

 I have even seen it resting there. 



I never saw this or any other specimen use its wings when diving ; 

 when performing this action it used both feet together, while in swim- 

 ming it moved by alternate strokes. 



This bird had lost nearly all its quills towards the end of January 

 1896, though they had only recently been fully developed. By this 

 time also the head appeared to be feathered. On the 2nd February 

 the quills were nearly grown again, as I find from my notes then taken. 



In the following month (March) I procured an adult, and turned 

 this also out on the tank, and the two soon became friendly. I ob- 

 served before turning out the new bird that, although hungry, and 

 searching for food with its head under (a common action) in the water 

 in which I placed it, it nevertheless refused to eat a sharp-toothed Goby ; 

 it took, however, a spider and some mole-crickets. At the end of 

 March I noticed that this specimen also had moulted all its quills, so 

 that this must be the usual mode of moulting in this species of Grebe 

 at all events.* 



Soon after this I went to the Andamans, and on my return could 

 not distinguish with certainty my old pet from the new dabchick. 

 I did see, indeed, one of them make a Whistling Teal fly out of the 

 water ; and if this were the young bird at its accustomed mischief, it 

 had by this time advanced nearly into full breeding plumage, which 

 was not the case with the other bird ; but this is, I should think, 

 unlikely. 



After this one of these dabchicks disappeared. I often saw one 

 fly short distances in the evening, and noticed that it alighted " any- 

 how," letting the feet trail behind all the time, and not putting them out 

 in front like a duck or gull. 



* I have observed a similar complete moult of the qnills in the Common Coot 

 (Fulica atra) the Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus) and in a species of Porphyria. In 

 the case of the Coot the observation has been previously made by St. John (Natural 

 History and Sport in Morayshire), but I noticed it independently on the tank 

 here. The Moorhen 1 noticed in St, James' Park in 1897, and the Porphyrio in the 

 Calcutta Zoological Gardens. 



