3 HISTORY OF THE 



■equal to the middle toe and claw. Plumage plain plumbeous dusky or blackish 

 •above, pure white beneath, including the whole under side of head and neck; 

 anuch the same at all seasons and stages." 



^chmophorus occidentalis (Lawr.). 



WESTERN GREBE. 

 PLATE I. 



Accidental visitant. For this addition to our State list, we 

 are indebted to Prof. F. H. Snow, who reports the capture of a 

 voung male jSTovember 3d, 1887, on the Kansas River, at Law- 

 rence. 



B. 704. R. 731. C. 845. G. , . U. 1. 



Habitat. Western North America, from Lower California 

 and Mexico to Manitoba, breeding nearly throughout its range. 



Sp. Char. '■'■Adult, full breeding plumage: Pileum and nape slaty black; 

 remaining upper parts brownish slate, the remiges paler and more grayish, with 

 the inner webs chiefly white; concealed bases of primaries and outer webs of 

 secondaries next the shaft also white. Entire lower parts satiny white, abruptly 

 defined against the black of the pileum and nape; sides, beneath the wings 

 clouded with grayish; lores usually brownish gray, sometimes white. Bill 

 •olivaceous, becoming clear yellowish terminally and along the commissure; iris 

 bright clear rose red; legs and feet greenish olive in the dried skin. Adult 

 {and young), in winter: Similar, but pileum and nape brownish slate, like the 

 back. Bill dull, rather light yellow, the lower mandible deepening into or- 

 ange terminally; culmen and broad longitudinal space on the side of the basal 

 two-thirds of the lower mandible dark olive green, the former nearly black; iris 

 pure carmine (having much the appearance of a red currant), growing nar- 

 rowly whitish around the pupil; tarsi and toes dull olivaceous yellow, the outer 

 side of the tarsus and joints of the toes nearly black. Downy young: Above, 

 imiform brownish gray, the nape and pileum lighter; lower parts uniform white; 

 bill blackish. No streaks or other markings whatever about the plumage." 



The birds are quite common west of the Rocky Mountains; 

 breeding in reedy ponds and lakes, east to Manitoba; wintering 

 south into Lower California; but its capture at Lawrence is the 

 first mention that I can find of its occurrence upon the east side 

 of the mountains south of the breeding grounds. I have noticed 

 this large species at San Diego several times, and in the winter 



