898 U. S. P, E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



But two species are enumerated in this genus, one inhabiting South and the other North 

 America. They do not appear to go very far north, hut are distributed pretty generally over 

 the temperate parts of the continent, prefering the fresh water streams and lakes. 



When alarmed by the approach of any person, they have a peculiar habit of sinking gradually 

 in the water, the bill being the last to disappear; this is accomplished so slowly that no 

 disturbance of the water takes place. 



The head is not adorned with ruffs or tufts. 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS, Lawrence. 



The Pied-Bill Grebe. 



CoLi/mhiis poiiiceps, Linn. S. N. 1766, 223. 

 Colymhus ludoviciamts, Gm. I. 592. 



Podicips carolinemis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11, 1790, 785.— Bonap. Syn. 1828. No. 367.— Rich. & Sw. F. B. A. IF, 1831, 

 412.— NuTT. Man. II, 1834, 259.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 359: V, 1839,624.— Is. Birds Am. 

 VII, 1844, 324 ; pi. ccccl.xxxiii. 

 Sylheoq/clus carclimnm, Bon. Comp. List, 1838, 64. 

 ? Poniceps bremroslris, Gr»y, Genera, III; pi. clxxii. 

 Podilymbm liiiealus, Heermasn, Proc. Acad. N. S. Phil. VII, 1854, 179. 

 Sp. Ch. — Adnll. Upper plumage Tery dark brown ; primaries dark asli ; socondariea ash on the outer webe and white on the 

 inner; bill pale blue, dusky on the ridge of the upper mandible, both mandibles crossed with a broad black band, including the 

 nostrils ; chin and throat marked with a conspicuous black patch nearly two inches in extent ; cheeks and sides of the neck 

 brownish grey ; lower part of the neck, upper part of the breast, and the sides, dull rusty brown, spotted and rather indistinctly 

 barred with brownish black ; lower part of breast and abdomen greyish white, mottled with dusky spots ; iris, brown ; tarsi and 

 feet, greyish black. 



Length, 14 inches; wing, 5i; bill, J ; tarsus, li. 



Ycaing. The throat is white and the bill without the transverse black band, the under plumage more silvery white ; in other 

 respects the same as the adult. Some specimens, probably the birds of the year, have whitish lines on the sides of the head. I 

 have compared a specimen in this plumage with Dr. Heermaun's type of P. lineatus, and found them precisely alike. 

 Hab. — Atlantic States generally. Texas and New Mexico. California and Oregon. 



There are six specimens in the collection in different stages of plumage, besides a chick, just 

 hatched, which is probably of this species ; in this the color is black, having several whitish 

 lines running the entire length of the body ; two pure white stripes from each side of the head, 

 and meeting above the bill, separated by a black line ; some white stripes on the sides of the 

 neck, and some bright rufous spots on the occiput ; the bill is black, tipped with pure white. 



As in the allied- genera, there is. a great disparity in the size of individuals. This species 

 may be easily recognized by the short and stout form of the bill ; and in mature plumage, by 

 the black patch on the throat, and the transverse band on the bill. 



