204 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



back sooty-black, washed with grey ; sides of the lower back and 

 rump white, tinged with rufous; wing coverts similar to back; 

 quills brown ; inner primaries and secondaries more or less white ; 

 cheeks, chin, throat, and upper part of the fore-neck black ; upper 

 jjarts of the chest, sides, and flanks more or less smoky-black ; 

 rest of under surface glossy white. Dimensions in mm. :^ 

 Length, 236; bill, 24; wing, 106; tarsus, 34. 



Malo and Female [non-breeding plumage). — Cheeks and entire 

 under surface white. 



Young. — Upper surface more or less striped with black and 

 brownish-white; under surface white. 



Nest. — "A floating striicture, composed usually of aquatic 

 weeds piled up in rounded form, the top being almost level with 

 the surface of the water — in some instances the eggs are in the 

 water — and stranded among rushes or submerged fallen reeds, &c., 

 or anywhere in flooded country. Sometimes these nests are placed 

 near or amongst those of the large Tippet Grebe " (A. J. Campbell). 



Eggs. — Clutch four to six usually; elliptical m shape; texture 

 fine ; surface glossy ; colour pale bluish-white, which is obscured 

 by a thin coating of lime. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : — (1) 

 33 X 25, (2) 34 x 26, (3) 33.5 x 26, (4) 32 x 24. 



Breeding Season. — September to January. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia in general. 

 New Guinea, Java, and New Caledonia. 



Observations. — According to Mr. A. J. Campbell, the Black- 

 throated Grebe " is the most plentiful of the three species inhabit- 

 ing the Australian region." This may be so on the mainland, but 

 as far as my own observations go it does not hold good for this 

 island. Owing to its retiring habits, this species is but seldom 

 seen save by those who lay themselves out to do so. 



A rather curious habit of this bird is ixientioned by Mr. A. J. 

 North, and which doubtless has been noticed by many others ; 

 that is, the bird while sitting covers herself over with the outer 

 jiortions of the nest until only her head and neck are visible. 

 When leaving the nest the eggs are covered over, the bird diving 

 immediately and reappearing some 10 or 15 yards awaj'. 



*HOAEY-HEADED GEEBE 

 (Podicipes poliocephalus , Jard. and Selby). 



Male (breeding plumage). — "Head covered with long, fine 

 hair-like white feathers ; throat, occiput, and upper surface dark- 

 brown ; bill black, with light tips; tarsi blackish-olive" (Gould). 

 Under surface silvery-white; inner primaries and secondaries 

 almost pure white. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 262; bill, 20; 

 wing, 108; tarsus, 33. 



Female (breeding plumage). — Similar to male. Dimensions 

 the same. 



