1854.] 179 



pale yellow ochre, the feathers bordered with faint white; those of the breast, 

 near the pinion of the wing, having in their centre a linear spot of black. The 

 lower part of abdomen and vent are of a much paler hue than the breast. Tail, 

 brown on its upper surface, the two middle feathers having a bronzed tinge, the 

 others being tipped with yellowish white, followed by a black band; under sur- 

 face, grayish, the inner vanes being mottled with minute brown spots. Bill, 

 black. Feet, light yellow. Length 7a inches. 



While riding on the prairie near San Antonio, my attention was called to this 

 bird from its lesser size than Bartram's Tatler, (Actidurus Bartramius,) which 

 there abounds. It ran nimbly on the ground among the grass in search of in- 

 sects, uttering, when disturbed, a weak tweet, two or three times repeated. 

 The birds of this genus, unlike the Tringae, (which congregate in large flocks, 

 showing a preference for the sea shore.) migrate in small parties, resorting to 

 the fresh water ponds and streams of the interior, or seek their food on the broad 

 grassy plains, and run with great celerity. If alarmed, they fly with rapidity, 

 making wide, circuitous sweeps before alighting. When wounded, they take to 

 the water, swimming with facility and often diving to escape danger. The nest, 

 formed of grasses and containing four eggs, is placed on the ground which has 

 been previously hollowed out. When disturbed during the breeding season, the 

 female, flying a short distance from her nest, throws herself on the ground, flut- 

 tering along as if wounded, and thus decoys the intruder into following her away. 

 Once at a safe distance, she takes to wing, returning to her home by a circuitous 

 route. 



Genus PODICEPS, Lath. 

 Podiceps Californicus, nobis . California Grebe. 



Form. Size, small. Bill, slender, slightly curved upwards. Wings, short : 

 first quill of primaries, slightly longest; secondaries, short ; tertiaries, longer, 

 nearly equal to the primaries. Tarsae, flattened ; feet, large. 



Color. The entire upper parts of a deep, sooty brown, darkest and nearly 

 black on top of the head and the back. Neck, almost encircled with grayish 

 white, and in front with an indistinct band of grayish brown. Sides and flanks 

 tinged with brownish gray. Under parts, silky white and near the vent having 

 a sullied appearance. Under wing coverts, white. Some of the shorter pri- 

 maries, of a cinereous brown, faintly tipped w r ith white. Secondaries, white, 

 of which a few have their outer webs brown. Bill, dark, tipped with lighter 

 horn color. Feet, dark green. Length, 12 inches. 



At first sight this bird appears very closely allied to the P. cbrnutus and P. 

 auritus, but on comparing them, marked differences are at once perceived, both 

 in size and form. I observed this grebe on the inland fresh water ponds, as well 

 as on the sea shore, where it was abundant, passing its time on the water, in 

 pursuit of insects and small fish, with which, on dissection, I found its stomach 

 filled. Having procured it only during the winter, I am unable to describe its 

 spring livery, and between the two seasons there is much difference of plumage 

 in this genus. 



Genus PODYLYMBUS, Lesson. 

 Podylymbus lineatus, vohis. Lineated Diver. 



Form. Size, small. Bill, short and strong; nostrils, conspicuous. Wings, 

 short ; the 2d primary the longest ; secondaries, short ; tertiaries, longer than 

 secondaries. Feet, large. 



Color. Entire upper parts, dark reddish brown. A white line from base of up 

 per mandible, under the eye, and running down the neck, succeeded by another 

 under it of reddish brown. Spots at the base of under mandible, reddish brown. 

 Throat, white, marked with a few obscure spots of reddish brown. Lower 

 neck, in front and upper part of breast, pale reddish brown, with which the 

 sides and flanks are also tinged. Other under parts, silky white, the lower 

 portion of abdomen and vent, mouse color. Quills, dark cinereous; secondaries, 

 tipped with white. Bill, horn color. Feet black. Length, 11 inches. 



