PODICEPS AUSTRALIS, Gowa.

Australian Tippet Grebe. !

Podiceps Australis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., August 13, 1844.
Ka-lee, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.
Diver, of the Colonists.

 

Challanecshel Linh.

Tus beautiful species of Grebe, which differs but little from the Podiceps cristatus of Europe, inhabits the
inland waters of Van Diemen’s Land, and the whole of the southern portions of the continent of Australia,
wherever localities present themselves favourable to its existence. It gives a decided preference to those
broad mere-like sheets of water, whose depth is not too great for the growth of rushes and other aquatic
plants, among which it constructs its floating nest and rears its progeny. It not only dives extremely
well, but stems the billows with amazing power. I have frequently observed it on the upper part of the
Derwent, swimming against wind and tide in a manner that truly surprised me.

In describing this bird as distinct from the Podiceps cristatus, I admit that Iam making a species on very
slender grounds ; it will be seen, however, that the Australian bird is rather larger in size, and has the frill
fuller and of a blacker colour than the European species. My own opinion is, that birds may be quite as
nearly alike as these and yet have had a distinct origin, and consequently be distinct species, and I am
guided in this opinion by the great law of representation, which I see carried out so beautifully in opposite
parts of the world, and even on the opposite portions of the same continent.

The beautiful frill which adorns the neck of the P. Australis is acquired in the spring, and being worn
during the breeding-season is again cast off, the face then becoming of a greyish white, or similar in colour
to the other part of the neck.

The sexes are at all times alike in plumage; both have the frill of the neck to an equal extent, but the
female is generally the smallest in size.

Crown of the head and occipital tufts black ; frill black at the outer edge and rich chestnut in the centre,
gradually passing into buffy white on the face; upper surface and wines dark brown; scapularies and
secondaries pure white ; all the under surface silvery white, stained with brown and chestnut on the flanks ;
irides red; bill dark horn-colour ; upper surface of the tarsi and toes dark olive-green, under surface pale
yellow.

The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size in the breeding plumage.

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