894 U. 8. p. K. B. EXP AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL, REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



PODICEPS OCCIDENTALIS, Lawrence. 



The Western Grebe. 



gp Ch. — THnfer. Upper part of the head and nape fuliginous black ; back and wing coverts greyish black, the feathers 

 maririned with grey ; primaries light ashy brown, darker at the end and white at bafe ; secondaries white, marked with ash on 

 the outer wets ; in some specimens the middle secondaries are pure white ; space between the bill and tlie eye grey ; throat, 

 sides of the neck, and entire under plumage silvery white ; sides marked with greyish black ; bill dusky, appearing marly 

 black in the dried specimens, except on the cutting edges ard at the end, where it is yellow ; iris orange ; tarsi and feet appear 

 to have been greyish black externally and flesh color internally. 



Length, 29 inches ; extent of wings, 3G ; wing from carpal joint, 8J ; bill, 3 ; tarsus, 3. 



Jfa6.— Pacific coast from Washington Territory to California. 



There are six specimens in the collection, differing considerably in size, which I consider as 

 beinf specifically the same. They vary in length from 24 to 29 inches. Three of them 

 measure, respectively, 27, 28, and 29 inches. In the above account I have given the dimensions 

 of the largest one, as they were taken from the specimen while fresh. It is very superior in 

 size to P. cristatus, and, juilging from analogy, it is fair to infer that in its nuptial attire it 

 makes a grand display. In this plumage its acquisition is very desirable. 



The bill is quite different from that of "cristatus," being much longer, straighter, and 

 relatively narrower. In some of the specimens it is quite slender. 



On one of the specimens was a label with the MS. name of " occidentalis," which, being a 

 very suitable one, I have adopted. 



This is the largest known species of this genus, and its discovery is one of the important 

 scientific results of connecting natural history explorations with the government expeditions. 



Specimen No. 9544 resembles " clarhii" rather more than the others, not differing much from 

 it in size and the color of the back ; but, having the bill dark colored, and being grey (not 

 white) between the eye and the bill, I have labelled it as belonging to this species. 



lAst of specimens. 



Catal. 

 No. 



Locality. 



When col- 

 lected. 



Whence obtained. 



Grig. 

 No. 



Collected by— Length. 



Stretch 

 of wing. 



Wing. 



Remarks. 



9927 



4497 



4498 B 



99251 



9928 



9544 



9926 



Bodega, C'al 



Shoalwater bay ... 

 do 



Ft Steilacoom.W.T. 

 do 



Puget's Sound 



do 



Feb. 1855 



Lt. Trowbridge. 

 Gov. Stevens 



.do. 



24.00 



Dr. Cooper 28.00 



....do 



7.50 

 8.50 



Apl. 21, '56 



Oct. 12, 'u7 

 Oct. 10, '56 



Dr. Suckley... 

 Gov. Stevens.. 

 A Campbell.. 

 Dr. Suckley .. 



320 

 500 



29.00 



36.00 



.36 



Dr, Suckley.. 

 Dr. Kennerly. 



Irids,flame r'd. 

 Irids, orange. 



27.00 



7.50 

 8.00 



1 Bill dusky green above, greenish yellow on sides; outside of fett and tarsi dusky green, inside pale dingy greenish 

 yellow. Bill to angle of mouth 3.75 ; tarsus, 3.50. 



