44 



THE BIRDS OF ATJSTEALIA 



The Hoary-headed Grebe. 



Podicipes polio-cephalus. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Colour above ash brown; sides of lower back white; crown blackish, 

 shading into deep black on occiput and nape, which is elongated and 

 forms a kind of hood; sides of head brownish white, the feathers with 



Hoiiry-headed Grebe : Podicipes nestor. 



Australian Museum. 



hair-like extremities; chest whitish, abdomen dusky, rest of underparts 

 white. Total length about 9.5 inches, culmen from feathers on forehead 

 0.6-0.8, wing 4.3-4.4, tarsus 1.5, outer toe and claw 1.9. When not 

 breeding hair-like filaments almost absent. 



Flat floating nest of water weeds, the eggs always wet. Eggs 

 four to six, with glossy surface, white when first laid, but soon 

 stained brown, measuring about 1.58 x 1.13 inch. 



