1062 PODICEPS FLUVIATILIS. 



Colombo Lake I have seen a large flock fly more than half a mile, and, mounting fully 12 feet in the -air, 

 endeavour to clear a small steamer which was crossing their course ; this, however, is unusual, as the flight 

 of the Dabckick is generally a mere flapping along the surface of the water. Notwithstanding, however, its 

 unwillingness to take long flights, it must be possessed of considerable power of wing, or it could not find its 

 way to artificial pieces of water such as the Lakes of Ootacamund and Nuwara Eliya. The food of this Grebe 

 consists of vegetable matter, larvae, water-insects, and occasionally minute 'mollusks and Crustacea. Its note 

 is a clear and not unmusical whistle. 



Nidification. — The Little Grebe breeds in the Western Province during the S.W. monsoon rains, and, 

 I apprehend, nests in secluded nooks on the Colombo Lake, although I never succeeded in finding its nest. 

 In India it breeds from August till September in the north and in Cashmir, and in May and June in the 

 Nilghiris. According to Mr. Hume, " the nests are sometimes fixed to the branches of some water-overhanging 

 tree a couple of feet above the water, and are then made of twigs, grass, weeds, and leaves ; but generally they 

 are mere masses of weeds and rush, founded on some tuft of water-grass, and little, if at all, above the water 

 level." Prom my own experience, which is confined to the finding of nests in the marshes of Essex, I should 

 say that they were frequently constructed simply as floating masses. I have found them among reeds secure -1 

 between the upright stalks, and constructed of flags, reeds, and weeds, about 10 inches in diameter, 6 inches 

 thick, and with a hollow, about 2 inches deep, for the reception of the eggs. The eggs, which varied from 

 •A to 6, were invariably covered over with wet weeds, which, during the day at any rate, seem to afford sufficient 

 warmth for purposes of incubation, inasmuch as the birds have been ascertained not to resort to their nests 

 at that time. It is evident, however, that but little warmth is required to sustain life in this bird's eggs, 

 as I once kept some for nearly thirty hours, and on proceeding to blow them was astonished to find the 

 young alive and cheeping within them. The eggs arc long narrow ovals, equally tapering at both ends ; the 

 shell is thick and rough in texture, and when first laid is of a dull white colour, becoming afterwards 

 discoloured to yellowish white ; some have slight smudges of brown. They measure from 1*5 to P6 in length, 

 and from OS to TO inch in breadth. The interior of the shell is deep green. In India the eggs are said 

 to have a faint bluish-green tinge, and vary from l - 28 to 1*52 in length, and from 077 to l'l inch in breadth. 

 The young appear to take to the water as soon as they are hatched, as I have found newly broken shells in 

 nests without seeing any signs of young near them. They are said not to be able to dive until a few days 

 old, and are often taken on the back of the parent bird when very young. 



Order ANSERES. 



Bill broad, flattened and depressed towards the tip, covered with a soft skin ; tip terminating 

 in a hard decurved " nail ; " upper mandible in all but one genus wider than the under, the 

 edges furnished with lamellae. Wings pointed. Tail short. Legs in some placed far back ; 

 in all hut one group short and the tarsus laterally compressed. Tibia not feathered to the 

 knee. Feet webbed ; hind toe small, moderately elevated. 



Of stout form. Tongue thick and fleshy. Sternum with a single notch in each half of the 

 posterior margin. Nidificating on the ground or in holes in trees. Young autophagous. 



