PALMIPEDES. 403 



moderate ; the lower larynx is furnished on each side with 

 a peculiar muscle. 



CoLYMBus^ Lin.(l) 



The only particular character of the Divers is a smooth, straight, 

 compressed and pointed bill, and linear nostrils; but the differences 

 in the feet have caused them to be subdivided. 



PoDicEPS, Lath. CoLYMBus, Briss. and lUig. 

 The toes of the Grebes, instead of being palmated, are widened 

 like those of the Coots, the anterior ones only being united at base 

 by membranes. The middle nail is flattened, and the tarsus strongly 

 compressed. The semi-metallic lustre of their plumage has caused 

 it to be occasionally employed as fur. Their tibia, as well as that 

 of the succeeding subgenera, is prolonged above into a point which 

 gives a more efficient insertion to the extensors of the leg. 



These birds live on lakes, &c., and build among the rushes. 

 In certain circumstances, it appears that they carry their young ones 

 under their wings. Their size and plumage are so much changed 

 by age, as to have caused an improper multiplication of species. 

 M. Meyer reduces those of Europe to four. 



Col. cristatus, Gm., Enl. 400 and 944; Frisch, ISSj Naum. 

 69, F. IO65 Col. urinator, Gm., Enl. 941; Edw. 36 (The Crested 

 Grebe), is the size of aduckj blackish-brown above, silver-white 

 beneath; a white band on the wing; it acquires with age a double 

 black tuft, and the adults have in addition a broad red collarette 

 on the upper part of the neck, edged with black. 



Col. cornutus, Enl. 404, 2; Col. obscurus, Enl. 942; and Col. 

 caspicus^ Gm., Vieill. Gal. 281; Edw. 145 (The Horned 

 Grebe), resembles the preceding in form, but the collarette of 

 the adult is black; its tufts and the front of its neck red. It is 

 much smaller. 



Col. subcristatus; and the young, parotis and rubricollis, Enl. 

 931; Lath. Supp. I, 118; Naum. 70, f, 107 (The Grey-cheeked 

 Grebe), also has the front of its neck red, but the tufts of the 

 adult are small and black, and its collarette very short and grey. 

 Intermediate, as to size, between the two last. 



Col. minor, Gm. Enl. 905 (The Little Grebe), is as large as 

 a Quail, and has neither crest nor collarette; its plumage is 

 brown, more or less shaded with red, the breast and belly ex- 

 cepted, where it is a silver-grey. The throat of the young bird 

 is white. (2) 



(1) Colymbus, the Greek name of these birds. 



(2) Add the Pod. carolinensis, Lath., Catesb. 41, 91, Enl. 93; the Gi: aux 



