PODICIPID^ — THE GREBES — DYTES. 



431 



Genus DYTES, Kaup. 



Bytes, Kaup, Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. 1829, 49 (type, Colijmbus cornutus, Gmel. = C. aurilus, Linn.), 

 Frodopus, Kaup, 1. c. (type, Podiceps nigricollis, Bp.ehm). 

 Otodytcs, Reich. Syst. Nat. 1853, p. iii (same type). 



Char. Size small (wing 5.00 to 6.00 inches) ; neck much shorter than the bodj^ ; hill much 

 shorter than the head, the culmen equal to about three to three and a half times the basal depth ; 

 tarsus about as lonij; as the middle toe without the claw. Breeding-plumage ornamented with 

 colored tufts and patches about the head. 



Z). auritus. 



Two well-marked species of this genus occur in North America, their characters lieing as 

 follows : — - 



1. D. auritus. Bill compressed (deeper than wide at the base). Breeding-plumage: Lower 



neck and jugulum rufous; sides of occiput with very full tuft of dense, soft, blended 

 ochraceous feathers. Hah. Northern hemisphere. 



2. D. nigricoUis. Bill depressed (wider than deep at the base). Breeding-plumage: Lower 



neck and jugulum black ; sides of head behind eyes with a tuft-like patch of slender 



acicular ochraceous feathers. 

 a. Three or four inner primaries mostly or entirely white. Hah. Patearctic Region, 



and Greenland. NigricoUis. 

 /3. Inner primaries with inner webs wholly du.sky ; colors decidedly duller, and bill 



slenderer. Hah, Western North Amei'ica. Californicus. 



