BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
233 
8. Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Linne 
Po-di-ceps— L., podex ( podicis ), rump; L., pes, foot: cris-ta-tus —L., 
cristatus, crested. 
Distribution. —Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in the 
eastern hemisphere and New Zealand. 
Notes. —Also called Great Crested Grebe, Tippet Grebe, Loon, Gaunt, 
and Carr Goose. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting lakes, streams, 
and swamps. It is partly a migrant, wintering in the warmer latitudes 
and arriving in southern Australia during early spring. Deep pools and 
readies are its favourite haunts, where it is generally seen floating placidly 
on the water. When alarmed, it utters a guttural note resembling ‘«Hek ” 
and sinks its body almost entirely beneath the water, while its long neck is 
stretched upwards to its fullest extent. Food: aquatic plants and animals. 
Nest .—A flat, floating platform of green rushes, reeds, and other 
water plants, merely laid one on top of the other, and moored to 
rushes or the branches of a floating tree. Usually it rests just above the 
surface of the water, frequently being quite wet. 
Eggs. —Five to seven, greenish-white, soon becoming soiled from 
contact with the more or less decaying vegetation of which the nest is 
composed. Breeding-season: November to February. 
9. Darter Anhinga novce-hollandice Gould 
An-hing-a — anhinga, native Brazilian name of the bird: novce-hollandice 
—of New Holland. 
Distribution. —Australia generally; also occurs in New Guinea; 
accidental to New Zealand. 
Notes .—Also called Snake-necked Darter, Snake-bird, Diver, and 
Shag. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting chiefly inland lakes, streams, 
and swamps. Generally shy and wary; its favourite haunts being deep 
pools and secluded reaches. If disturbed while swimming it immediately 
sinks its body beneath the water, leaving only its head and neck above 
the surface, or dives, to reappear some distance away. Food: fish and 
aquatic animals. 
Nest.— A substantial platform composed of twigs and sticks, and 
covered with green branchlets which droop over the sides; generally 
placed in the branches of a low tree, overhanging or standing in water. 
Eggs. —Three to five, greenish and covered with a coating of whitish 
lime. Breeding-season: October to January (eastern Australia) ; February 
and March (north-western Australia); May and June (Northern 
Territory). 
10. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Linne 
Ple-ga-dis —Gk, plegas, plegados, sickle: jal-cin-elV-us —L., falcinella, 
little scythe. (Both names refer to the shape of the bill.) 
Distribution .—Australia (usually the northern half), and Tasmania; 
also occurs in eastern United States of America, southern Europe, Africa, 
southern Asia, and Malaysia; accidental to New Zealand. 
