1062 
PODICEPS FLTJYIATILIS. 
Colombo Lake I have seen a large flock fly more than half a mile., and, mounting fully 12 feet in the air, 
endeavour to clear a small steamer which was crossing their course; this, however, is unusual, as the flight 
of the Dabchick is generally a mere flapping along the surface of the water. Notwithstanding, however, its 
unwillingness to take long flights, it must be possessed of considerable power of wing, or it could not find its 
way to artificial pieces of w ater such as the Lakes of Ootacamund and Nuwara Eliya. The food of this Grebe 
consists of vegetable matter, larvae, water-insects, and occasionally minute mollusks and Crustacea. Its note 
is a clear and not unmusical whistle. 
Nidificution . — The Little Grebe breeds in the Western Province during the S.W. monsoon rains, and, 
I apprehend, nests in secluded nooks on the Colombo Lake, although I never succeeded in finding its nest. 
In India it breeds from August till September in the north and in Caslimir, and in May and J une in the 
Nilghiris. According to Mr. Hume, “ the nests are sometimes fixed to the branches of some water-overhanging 
tree a couple of feet above the water, and are then made of twigs, grass, weeds, and leaves ; but generally they 
are mere masses of weeds and rush, founded on some tuft of water-grass, and little, if at all, above the water 
level.” From my own experience, which is confined to the finding of nests in the marshes of Essex, I should 
say that they were frequently constructed simply as floating masses. I have found them among reeds secured 
between the upright stalks, and constructed of dags, reeds, and weeds, about 10 inches in diameter, 6 inches 
thick, and with a hollow, about 2 inches deep, for the reception of the eggs. The eggs, which varied from 
4 to 6, were invariably covered over with wet weeds, which, during the day at any rate, seem to afford sufficient 
warmth for purposes of incubation, inasmuch as the birds have been ascertained not to resort to their nests 
at that time. It is evident, however, that but little warmth is required to sustain life in this bird’s eggs, 
as I once kept some for nearly thirty hours, and on proceeding to blow them was astonished to find the 
young alive and cheeping within them. The eggs are long narrow ovals, equally tapering at both ends ; the 
shell is thick and rough in texture, and when first laid is of a dull white colour, becoming afterwards 
discoloured to yellowish white ; some have slight smudges of brown. They measure from L5 to P6 in length, 
and from 08 to l - 0 inch in breadth. The interior of the shell is deep green. In India the eggs are said 
to have a faint bluish-green tinge, and vary from 1’28 to 1\52 in length, and from 077 to l'l inch in breadth. 
The young appear to take to the water as soon as they are hatched, as I have found newly broken shells in 
nests without seeing any signs of young near them. They are said not to be able to dive until a few days 
old, and are often taken on the back of the parent bird when very young. 
Order AN SERES. 
Bill broad, flattened and depressed towards the tip, covered with a soft skin ; tip terminating 
in a hard decurved “ nail ; ” upper mandible in all but one genus w'ider than the under, the 
edges furnished with lamellae. Wings pointed. Tail short. Legs in some placed far back ; 
in all but one group short and the tarsus laterally compressed. Tibia not feathered to the 
knee. Feet webbed ; hind toe small, moderately elevated. 
Of stout form. Tongue thick and fleshy. Sternum with a single notch in each half of the 
posterior margin. Nidificating on the ground or in holes in trees. Young autophagous. 
