896 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



neck and upper part of the breast bright chestnut red, sides of the same color, intermixed with dusky ; abdomen silky white; 

 bill bluish black, yellow at the tip ; loral space bright carmine ; iris carmiue, with au inuer circle of white ; tarsi aud feet dusky 

 grey externally, dull yellow internally, and on both edges of the tarsus. ^ 



Length about 14 inches; wing, 5^ ; bill, I ; tarsi 1']. 



Young. The whole upper plumage greyish black, darkest on the head, feathers of the back with grey margins ; throat, sides 

 of the head, a broad space on the sides of the neck, nearly meeting behind, breast and abdomen silvery white; sides and lower 

 part of abdomen dusky. 



Uab Generally distributed, specimens being in the collection from the Atlantic States, the interior ones and the Pacific 



coast. 



List of specimens. 



PODICEPS CALIFORNICUS, Hoermann. 



The California Grebe. 



Fodkepa califomicus, IIeerm. Proc. Acad. N. Sc. Phil., VII, 1854, 179. 



Sp. Ch — Winter Plumage. The entire upper plumage is blackish brown, nearly black on the head ; primaries brownish ash, 

 some of the inner ones tipped with white; secondaries white, with their basal portions dark ash; under parts silky white, the 

 neck in front light ash, and the sides aud lower part of abdomen brownish ash ; under lining of the wings white ; bill dark 

 browD, the base of the lower mandible yellowish, and its tip light born color ; iris yellowish grey ; tarsi and feet externally dark 

 green, on the inside yellow. 



Length 12 inches ; wing, 5 ; bill, J ; tarsus, 1 J. 



Uab. — California, head waters of Missouri river. 



Numerous specimens are in the collection, all in winter plumage ; in its spring dress it lias 

 not yet been obtained. It resembles "P. cornulus" in its winter garb, but is smaller, and 

 the bill somewhat differently shaped. 



Dr. Heermann speaks of it as being abundant in Calilbruia on the inland Irosh water ponds, 

 and on the sea shore. 



