PODICEPS. 401 



of grass, placed in tufts of grass and rush near the edges of clearings 

 in the neighbourhood of Aberbeen. They contained four and six 

 eggs respectively. 



All these eggs, as well as two previously sent me by Captain 

 Wimberley, are precisely similar. They are very regular ovals, 

 usually slightly more pointed at one end, and with a faint gloss. 

 The ground varies from nearly white to a pale brown or pinkish 

 stone-colour, and it is more or less sparingly spotted, streaked, 

 blotched, and speckled with a rather rich red or brownish red. 

 These markings are somewhat more numerous towards the large 

 end, where, in some, they form an irregular cap. Besides these 

 primary markings, a number of pale purple clouds and spots are 

 scattered about the egg, mostly towards the large end. 



The eggs vary from 1'38 to 1'48 in length and from 1'05 to 1*14 

 in breadth ; but the average of twelve is 1'43 by 1-00. 



Order PYGOPODES. 



Podiceps cristatus (Linn.)'. The Crested Ch-ehe. 



Podiceps cristatus (Linn.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 821 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. ^ E. no. 974. 



The Crested Grebe is a cold-weather visitant to the whole of 

 Continental India, but, except along the Sind Coast and in the 

 sub-Himalayan districts, it is nowhere, so far as I know, at all 

 common. 



Personally I know nothing of its nidification, but it breeds, I 

 understand, commonly in the lakes of Cashmere, and Mr. W. 

 Theobald makes the following remarks on the subject : — " Lays in 

 the second week of May. Eggs, five in number, ovato-pyriform. 

 Size, 2'53 by 1'51. Colour, pure white ; when recently laid, pale 

 green. "Wuller Lake. Nest, a heap of weeds floating on the 

 surface of the water, but connected to reeds, &c." 



Tachybaptes fluvlatilis (Tunst.). The Little Grebe. 



Podiceps phUippensis, Gmel., Jerd. B. Lid. ii, p. 822. 

 Podiceps minor, Linn., Hume, Bough Draft N. ^ E. no. 975. 



The Little Grebe is to be found all over the Empire, and there 

 is scarcely any considerable-sized pond, tank, or lake in which it 

 may not be seen during the cold weather, but during the breeding- 

 season it leaves those which afford it no cover in the shape of 

 rushes, reeds, and aquatic vegetation. 



YOXi. III. 26 



