THE TIPPET GREBE 



45 



The Tippet Grebe. 



Podicipes (Lophmtliyia) cristatus. 



Europe to North Asia, Japan, Indian Peninsula, Africa, New Guinea, 

 Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 



Colour above dark ash-brown, crown black; feathers on each side 

 of crown elongate and forming a long double crest; throat white tinged 

 with rufous, shading into chestnut at the back of the head; upper neck 

 with long black plumes, forming a ruff, only worn during breeding 

 season; underparts silvery white; sides rufous chestnut; lesser wing 

 coverts white. Total length about 20 inches, culmen from feathers on 

 forehead 1.6-2.1, wing 6.7-8.1, tarsus 2.5-2.6, outer toe and claw 2.9-3.1. 



Tippet Grebe : Podicipes cristata. 



Meyer. 



Floating flat nest, made of green water-weeds and well down 

 in the water, usually placed among rushes. From four to six 

 eggs are laid, white but soon stained from the wet water-weeds, 

 of which the nest is composed. They measure about 2.04 x 1.44 

 inch. 



Order Sphbniscipormbs. 



Palate sehizognathous. Beak never hooked. Wing feathers 

 small and stiff, not produced into remiges. "Wings short, used 

 as swimming organs. Tail of narrow rigid feathers. Tarsi very 

 short, the front toes united by a web ; the hind toe very small, 

 united to the tarsus. Penguins. 



