24 
AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 
ORDER VI. — PODICIPEDIDIFORMES. 
F. 24. PODICIPEDIDAE (3), GREBES, 25 sp.— 5(2)A., 
8(2)0., 6(0)P., 5(1)E., 6(0)Nc., 11(7)N1. 
2 29 Black-throated Grebe (Little), Dabchick (e), White- 
15 bellied Diver (e), Podiceps novae-hollandiae, Java, 
N.G., A., N. Cal., ==vt. Eur. Little Grebe. 
Stat. c. lagoons 9.5 
Upper blackish-brown; white patch on wing; under silvery- 
gray; throat, side-face black (summer), brown 
(winter); beautiful fur-like plumage; lobed toes; f., 
Sim. Small fish, snails, insects. 
about any other division of the animal kingdom. Thus you 
will, I hope, find that you know far more about the subject than 
you at first thought. 
In the next Order, the Sixth, there are three Australian birds. 
They are called Grebes. Bird names often reflect some habit, 
e.g., Scratchers, Cooers. So Grebes are often called Divers. 
But the Divers of the ornithologist are Northern Hemisphere 
birds, placed in the next family (25). 
There is a widespread tradition to the effect that Grebes wait 
for the flash of the cap, and then dive before the bullet can reach 
them. They are, indeed, remarkably active in the water, but 
are absurd on land. Their legs are set so far back that it is 
almost impossible for them to walk. Their toes are not webbed, 
but are broadly lobed. 
