GREBE. 247 



rather wide, with rather loii<^ and slender coeca, and a very 

 hirge globnlar cloaca. 



Nostrils basal, linear-oblong, in the fore and lower part 

 of the narrow membrane. Eyes rather small ; eyelids fea- 

 thered ; a bare space from the eye to the bill. Aperture of 

 ear extremely small. 



The femur short, obliquely directed ; the tibia long, but 

 passing directly backward, parallel to the spine, and with its 

 muscles enveloped by the skin to near the end, so that the 

 legs are situated at the posterior extremity of the body ; tibia 

 bare for a very short space ; tarsus short, extremely com- 

 pressed, its narrow anterior ridge Avith small scutella, the 

 posterior with tAvo series of small prominent scales separated 

 by a groove. The toes disposed so that with their webs they 

 may fold into a compressed paddle, which in swimming is 

 expanded into Avide-spreading lobes ; the hind toe very small 

 with tAvo lateral lobes, the upper narrow ; anterior toes long, 

 obliquely flattened, the outer longest, all with stiffish lateral 

 expansions marked above Avith oblique parallel lines, and 

 connected at the base by Avebs. ClaAvs small, depressed, the 

 inner and outer narroAv, the third expanded, and serrulate to 

 the end. 



Plumage very soft and blended, on the loAver parts silky ; 

 on the neck and hind part of the back almost downy, com- 

 pact on the fore part of the back and Avings ; the scapulars 

 very long, and decurved ; the feathers of the lower parts much 

 curved, very elastic, Avith the filaments separated and doAvny, 

 but firm. Wings small, appearing Avhen folded extremely 

 short, OAving to the comparative shortness of the hand ; pri- 

 maries eleven, small, the outer tAvo longest ; secondaries 

 tAventy, short, rounded ; humerals ten. Tail a slight tuft of 

 minute doAvny feathers scarcely distinguishable. 



The Grebes are essentially diving piscivorous birds, ex- 

 tensively distributed, but not numerous as to species, inhabit- 

 ing chiefly fresh Avater, but also occurring on the sea, and 

 especially in estuaries. They float lightly, but can sink on 

 occasion so as to present to vicAV only the neck and head. 

 In SAvimming and diving, at Avhich they are extremely expert, 

 their feet, being placed at the posterior extremity of the body. 



