BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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seen in clear open water far out from the shore, and rarely on the land. 
When disturbed it suddenly disappears under the water, to reappear on 
the surface some distance away. Food: aquatic animals and plants. 
Nest . — A raft-like structure, composed of reeds and other aquatic 
plants, generally only a few inches above the surface of the water, and 
attached to reeds, twigs of a fallen branch of a tree, or other debris. 
Eggs— Four to seven, white, soon becoming stained due to a thick 
coating of lime. Breeding-season : October to March or April. 
17. Hoary-headed Grebe Podiceps poliocephalns Jardine and Selby 
pol-i-o-ceph'-al-us — Gk, polios , grey; Gk, cephale, head. 
Distribution . — Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
Notes. — Also called Dabchick and Tom Pudding. Usually in pairs 
or small parties, frequenting lakes and streams, salt-water inlets, and the 
estuaries of rivers. Similar in habits and economy to the Little Grebe. 
They are often seen together. 
Nest . — Similar to that of the Little Grebe. 
Eggs. — Like those of the Little Grebe. Breeding-season: October 
to January or February. 
18. Wood-sandpiper Tringa glareola Linne 
T ring' -a — N.L., from Gk, tryngas, a species of bird: glar-e-dl'-a — L., 
glareolus , gravelly. 
Distribution. — Northern Europe and northern Asia, migrating south- 
wards to South Africa, India, Malaysia, and Australia. 
Notes. — A rare visitor to Australia during the spring and summer 
months. It frequents marshy areas, swims well, and also perches on 
trees. Food: shell-fish, grasshoppers, and other insects. 
Nest. — A depression in the ground. 
Eggs. — Four, bluish, covered with large spots and blotches of dark 
purplish-red markings, more so at the larger end, and underlying spots 
of lavender. Breeding-season: May and June (Siberia). 
19. Marsh-sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Bechstein 
stag-na -til-is — L., stagnatilis , of marshes. 
Distribution . — Central Europe and northern Asia, migrating south- 
wards to South Africa, India, Malaysia, to northern and eastern Australia 
Notes. — Also called Little Greenshank. A rare visitor to Australia 
during the spring and summer months, where it frequents salt marshes. 
Nothing is recorded of its habits while in Australia. 
Nest. — A depression in the ground among grass. 
Eggs. — Four, very pale yellow, sometimes shading to a greenish tint, 
covered all over (but more so on the larger end, where they often form 
an irregular zone) with spots of deep brown or coffee-brown, and under- 
lying markings of grey. Breeding-season: June (Siberia). 
