COLYMBIDzE. 



19 



SUB-FAMILY III. 



Heliornin.e." 



The Sun-Grebes. 



Gex. Chaeac. — Bill long, straight, and compressed, with the tip slightly 

 curved and emarginated, the gonys of the lower mandible short and 

 advancing upwards ; the wings moderate and rounded ; the tail long and 

 much rounded ; the tarsi short, and the toes margined with a membrane, 

 which is more or less united to the middle one. 



Fig. 202.— the Senegal Fiif-FooT. 

 {HeUornis Senegalensis. ) 



These birds are chiefly seen on the sides of rivers 

 and creeks. In such places they search for small 

 fish and insects, more especially flies, in catching 

 which they show great dexterity. They are very 

 active, keeping their head and body continually in 

 motion, and frequently expanding their tail and 

 wings. The type of this sub -family is — 



The Senegal Fin-foot {HeUornis Senegalensis). 

 * i'lXLog, helios, the sun; upvig, ornis, a. bird. 



2 A 2 



