THE BLACK-THKOATED GREBE 



43 



The Black-throated Grebe. 



Podicipes novce-hollandioe. 



Australia, Java, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Tasmania. 



Colour above black, washed with grey on the back and wing-coverts; 

 dark chestnut band on each side of neck; sides of lower back and rump 

 white, tinged with rufous; upper part of chest, sides, and flanks mixed 

 with black; rest of underparts and portion of wing white. Total length 

 9.5 inches, eulnien from feathers on forehead 0.8-0.9, wing 4.2-4..5, tarsus 

 1.4, outer toe and claw 1.85. In moulting season the chin, throat, cheeks, 

 sides and forepart of neck white like rest of underparts. 



From life. 



Hoary -headed Grebe: Podicipes nestor. 



D. Le Souef. 



Nest floating low in water and built of water-weeds, 

 usually near some shelter, such as rushes. The eggs 

 are from four to six and covered with a thin coating of 

 white lime, which soon becomes stained and shiny. They 

 measure about 1.45 x 1.02 inch. The bird does not as a rule sit 

 on her eggs during the heat of the day, but leaves them covered 

 over with weeds so as to prevent them from being scorched by 

 the sun. She covers the eggs when leaving the nest. 



