488 



ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



ColyiHbm glacialis, BD., Stans. Rep. Exp. Great Salt Lake, 1852, 324. HEEUM., P. R. 

 R. Rep., x, pt. iv, 1859, 70. 



This diver was said by the fishermen of Utah Lake to be rather com- 

 mon, remaining in their waters till quite late in the fall. 



FAM. PODICIPIDAE: GREBES. 



PODICEPS OCCIDENTALS, Lawr. 

 Western Grebe. 



Podiceps occidentalism LAWR., Birds N. A., 1858, 894. NEWB., P. 11. R. Rep., vi, 1857, 

 110. COOP. & SUCKL., P. R. R. Rep., xii, pt, ii, 1860, 281, pi. xxxviii. 

 COUES, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 33G. YARROW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1871, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 31. YARROW & HENSUAW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1872, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 33. 



Podiceps (JEchmophorus) occidentalism COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 727. 



This grebe is peculiar to the region west of the Rocky Mountains ; 

 its eastern limit, so far as known, being the waters of Utah. It is a common 

 species of Utah Lake in summer, perhaps the most so of the family, and 

 breeds here. In fall, its numbers are increased by arrivals from the north, and 

 then three or four may often be seen in company disporting on the surface 

 of the water or diving in pursuit of their finny prey. They are less timid 

 than others of their family, and very little difficulty is experienced in 

 approaching sufficiently near to kill them with the shot gun. We were 

 told by the fishermen, that, when drawing their seines, these birds often swam 

 up to the edges of the net in close proximity to the boats, and several times 

 they had been so intent on their own fishing, finding their prey in such 

 unusual abundance, that they had allowed the net to fairly inclose them, 

 and in attempting to escape to the open Avater by diving had become en- 

 tangled in the meshes, and, imable to extricate themselves, had been taken 

 by the hands. A single individual was shot in the Grila River, New Mexico, 

 in November, at a point where the river was not more than twenty -five feet 

 wide and but a few feet deep. 



