351 



sides with two broad streaks of buffy white, one commencing above the eye and passing round to the 

 occiput, the other extending from the angle of the mouth down the side of the neck ; throat and neck 

 yellowish buff streaked with black ; upper parts and sides of the body dusky black, indistinctly mottled 

 with fulvous ; breast and abdomen buffy white. Bill dark brown, crossed in the middle and near the 

 tip with dull black bars. 



Progress towards maturity. The head becomes darker, the facial streaks described above gradually 

 disappearing, but the lengthened plumes with the white pencilled markings still wanting, this being 

 characteristic of the fully adult plumage ; breast dark rufous brown. 



Remarks. In this species there is no true crest, but the plumage of the crown and upper sides of the head 

 is very soft, and the shafts are produced into hair-like filaments, the whiteness of which renders them 

 more conspicuous. In place of a tail there is a tuft of black silky feathers about an inch in length. 

 The toes are armed with flattened claws, resembling the human finger-nail ; and that of the middle toe 

 has a pectinate edge. The tongue is large and fleshy, filling the cavity of the lower mandible ; and the 

 palate is armed with two convergent rows of papilla? directed backwards. 



Every country appears to possess at least one species of Dabchick ; and the group does not admit 

 of very much variety. The form inhabiting New Zealand, although readily distinguishable as a 

 species, is very similar to Podiceps nestor of Australia ; and its habits of life are precisely the 

 same. It is very abundant in all the freshwater lakes and lagoons of the South Island, and 

 equally so in the southern portions of the North Island. Strange to say, however, although the 

 physical conditions of the country are the same, it is rarely or never met with in the far north ; 

 indeed the only instance that has come to my knowledge of its occurrence in the district north of 

 Auckland is that of a pair shot by Major Mair in the Hurupaki lake (Whangarei) as far back as 

 1852. One of these was sent to Europe; and the other is in my collection in the Colonial 

 Museum. 



Like the other members of the group, it dives with amazing agility, and unless taken by 

 surprise will effectually dodge the gun by disappearing under the surface at the first flash, and 

 before the charge of shot has reached it. It is capable of remaining under water a considerable 

 time ; and when wounded, it hides by submerging the body and leaving only its bill and nostrils 

 exposed. When hunting for its food, which consists of small mollusca, among the aquatic plants 

 at the bottom of the lagoon, it usually remains under about 20 seconds, and then rises to the 

 surface for an interval of 7 seconds, repeating these actions with the utmost regularity, as I have 

 observed by timing them with my stop-watch. It flies with difficulty, and only for a short dis- 

 tance, skimming the surface with a very laboured flapping of its little wings. On the water it 

 swims low, and with a rapid jerking movement of the head. The form of its body and the 

 laminated structure of its feet are admirably adapted to its subaqueous performances ; and in 

 clear water I have watched the bird gliding easily along the gravelly boitom, with the neck 

 stretched forward and moved from side to side, and the wings partially open, the feet being used 

 as a means of progression. 



On the breeding-habits of this species, Mr. Potts writes*: — "The nest is rather a large and 



* Trans. N.-Z. Instit. 1869, vol. ii. p. 73. 



