OliffeJfcW AUSTRAMS« WSM
PODICEPS AUSTRALIS, 1
Australian Tippet Grebe.
Podiceps Australis, Gould in. Proc. o f Zool. Soc., August 13, 1844.
Ka-lee, Aborigines o f th e lowland districts o f We ste rn Australia.
Diver, of th e Colonists.
T h is beautiful species o f 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 o f 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 o f 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 iqe.
In describing this bird as distinct from the Podiceps cristatus, I admit that I am making a species on very
slender grounds; it will be seen, however, that the Australian bird is-rather larger in size, and has the f r il|
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 o f tlie world, and even on the opposite portions of the same continent.
The beautiful frill which adorns the neck of the P . Amtralis is acquired in the spring, and being worn
during the breeding-season is again cast off, the face then becoming o f 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 tQ 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 wings 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.