Dr. E, Coues — From Arizona to the Pacific. 273 



than birds. The bubbles of air clinp;ing all over their backs 

 gives them a beautiful spangled appearance ; and when emerging 

 from the sea, with a slight shiver of the feathers these spangles 

 disappear; the water rolls away too, and the feathers are as dry 

 as though they had not been submerged. A common habit 

 with all the Loons is to swim slowly about with the neck grace- 

 fully curved, and the bill thrust up to the eyes in the water. 

 ^V hat this is for I really do not know ; certain it is I never saw 

 them take fish or other food in this way. They seemed to be 

 simply tasting the water. 



The species we saw were C. torquatus (or glacialis, as Mr. 

 Sclater would contend), C. septentrionalis, and C. pacificus. 

 Concerning this last, there is now really no doubt, I think, that 

 it is a species exceedingly closely related to C. arcticus, and in 

 fact scarcely to be distinguished except by some differences of 

 dimension, as stated in my " Review of the Cobjmbida and 

 Podicipida"*. Mr. Lawrence's types were young birds; but 

 dozens of mature ones, in breeding-plumage, which I have 

 examined, show precisely the pattern of coloration that obtains 

 in adult C. arcticus. 



The Grebes we saw were ^chmophorus occidentalis and Podi- 

 ceps calif omicus, both of which were very common, the latter 

 the most so, on the lagoons back from the sea as well as on the 

 bay. The first named is a splendid-looking bird on the water, 

 riding very lightly, its long neck held erect, the bill pointing 

 horizontally forwards. This length of neck makes the motion 

 during the act of diving a very peculiar one ; and not one of them 

 ever was quick enough to escape my shot. They fly with both 

 neck and feet outstretched. It is a pity the colours of some 

 parts change in drying; they are so very beautiful. The iris is 

 bright orange-red, with a shade of pink ; and on widely separating 



* Vide Proc. Acad. Philad. April 1862, p. 28. Dr. Cooper has obli- 

 gingly furnished me, from his MS. notes, the following description : — 

 "Adult female, San Diego, Cal., May 6. Differs from C. arcticus, as 

 figured and described by Audubon, in the smaller size ; spots on wing- 

 coverts oblong, not round ; outer edge of quill black, not grey ; tail black. 

 Pui-ple of throat rounded below instead of pointed. No black and white 

 streaks on front of neck. Tarsi and feet black. The webs and outside of 

 the feet bluish in life." 



N. S. VOL. ir. T 



