BIRDS — COLYMBIDAE— PODICEPS CORNUTUS, 



895 



PODICEPS CLAEKII, Lawrence. 

 Clark's Grebe. 



Sp. Ch. — Winter. Upper part of the head and liind neck plumbeous black ; back and wing coverts blackish grey, with a 

 plumbeous hue ; feathers with lighter margins; primaries aeli at the end for one-third their length, basal two-thirds white ; 

 secondaiics white, with the outer edges of the outer webs ash ; a line of white extends from the base of the upper mandible to 

 the eye ; fore part and sides of the neck, with the whole under surface, pure silky white ; the bill is yellow, except the ridge of 

 the upper mandible, including and on a line with the nostrils, where it is black ; iris red ; tarsi and feet greyish black externally, 

 and flesh colored internally in the dried specimens. 



Length, 2C' inches; wing, 7j ; bill, 2^ ; tarsus, 2J. 



Hab. — California and New Mexico. 



Three specimens are in the collection. It is a near ally of "P. occidentalis," hut, I think, 

 quite distinct. In general appearance and color they somewhat resemble each other, but this 

 species is smaller, has the bill differently colored, and a conspicuous white mark before the eye. 

 The bill differs in shape from that of occidentalis ; the upper mandible being slightly recurved 

 (nearly straight), and the outline of the under curving up to it. In " occidentalis" the outline 

 of the lower mandible from the angle to the point is straight. 



All the species of this family resemble each other very much in the coloring of their winter 

 dress, consequently such species as approach each other in size are somewhat difficult to be 

 distinguished, the most reliable character being the form of the bill. This applies to the 

 preceding species and the one now described ; also to P. cornutus and P. californicus. 



As is is well known, the distinguishing characteristics are the ruffs and crests with which the 

 head is ornamented in the breeding season. 



List of specimens. 



PODICEPS CORNUTUS, Lath. 



The Horned Grebe. 



Cdymbus cornutus, 6m. Syst. Nat I, 1788, 591. 



Podkqia comulus, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1791), 783 — Bos. Syn. 1828, No. 366. — Rion. <fe Sw. F. B. A. II, 1S31, 411. 



NuTT. Man. II, 1831, 254.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1335, 429 : V, 1839, 623.— Ib Birds Am. VH, 1844i 



316 ; pi. cccclxxxi. 

 Colymbut obscurus, Gm. I, 592. 

 Colymbus caspiciis, Gm. I, 593. 

 Colymbua nigricans. Scop. Ann. I, 101. 

 fPodiceps ardicus, Boie, Tagebuch. 



Sp. Ch —Adult. Upper part of the head, cheeks, throat, and ruff, glossy black ; a broad band running from the bill orer the 

 eyes, and the elongated occipital tufts behind them yellowish red, deepest in color adjoining the bill ; upper surface brownish black, 

 the feathers margined with grey; primaries brownish ash, secondaries mostly white, some of the outer ones dark ash; the fore 



