. LXV.' 155 



FAMILY LXV. PODICIPID^E. 



(The Grebes.) 



Bill usually slender, rarely stoutish; lores naked; 

 head often with crests, ruffs or ear tufts in the breeding 

 season. Back not spotted; under plumage lustrous, 

 mostly white. Wings very short. Tail rudimentary. 

 Feet four -toed, lobate, the toes webbed at base; toes 

 flattened, provided with flat claws resembling human 

 nails ; tarsus scutellate, compressed. Genera two ; 

 species about twenty; in all parts of the world, chiefly 

 about fresh waters. 



* Bill slender, straight, rather acute ; loral strip narrow ; head in 

 breeding season with conspicuous crests or ruff. 



PODICEPS, 1. 



** Bill stout, somewhat hooked ; loral strip broad ; no ruff nor 

 crest ........ PODILYMBUS, 2. 



/. PODICEPS, Latham. CRESTED GREBES. 

 = Colymbus, Illiger. 



1. P. or/status, (L.) Lath. CRESTED GREBE. Upper 

 parts generally dark brown; crest black; throat and 

 sides of head white, becoming reddish on the ruff ; pri- 

 maries brown; secondaries mostly white; silky white 

 below, not mottled; L. 24; W. 8^; B. 2. Northern 

 hemisphere; U. S. in winter. 



2. P. holbolli, Reinhardt. RED-NECKED GREBE. Upper 

 parts brown; front and sides of neck rich brownish red; 

 throat and sides of head ashy; crests and ruffs not large; 

 below silvery ash, spotted or mottled; L. 18; W. 8; B. 

 If. N. Am., U. S. in winter. 



3. P. cornutus, (Gm.) Lath. HORNED GREBE. Dark 

 brown; head glossy black; a brownish yellow band over 

 eye and behind; fore-neck and breast brownish red; bill 



