24 f J 



PODICEPS. GEEBE. 



The Grebes have the body of an elliptical form, much 

 depressed, especially behind, where it presents, when the legs 

 are laterally extended, a broad thin edge ; the neck very long 

 and slender ; the head small, oblong, compressed, gradually 

 tapering forward. 



Bill rather long, slender, straight, much compressed, 

 tapering, pointed ; upper mandible mobile at the base as if 

 jointed, with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly 

 dcclinate and convex toward the end, the ridge convex, the 

 nasal groove basal, narrow, and of considerable length, the 

 sides nearly erect and convex, the edges very sharp and a 

 little inclinate, the tip direct, rather acute ; lower mandible 

 with the intercrural space very long and narrow, partly bare, 

 the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, the crura with 

 their lower outline straight, the sides nearly erect and con- 

 vex, the edges very sharp and a little inclinate, the tip rather 

 acute. 



The mouth, which does not extend so far back as the 

 eyes, is rather narrow, but dilatable by the elasticity of the 

 lower mandible ; the palate longitudinally ridged ; the upper 

 mandible with a lateral groove in its whole length on each 

 side, and anteriorly two other grooves ; the lower more deeply 

 concave, also with tAvo lateral giooves. The tongue long, 

 slender, fleshy, trigonal, nearly flat above, tapering to a slit 

 ])oint. The oesophagus is wide, with moderately thick 

 parietes ; the proventriculus ovate, with a broad belt of large 

 cylindrical glandules. The stomach is rather large, roundish, 

 compressed, with the muscular coat rather thick, but not 

 divided into distinct muscles, the tendons roundish, the epi- 

 thelium longitudinally rugous. The intestine is long and 



