/ 
894 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
List of specimens. 
s j 
Catal. No. Locality. Whence cktained. | Orig. No. | Collected by— Length. | Wing. 
1958 Atlantic coast....-.----- Sw iesBairdenescan see == BSsandoscos | J. J. Audubon ------ 23.50 7.75 
iia ae Ome eee sees sen cab.10L Geo.eN | uawrence || CA alin a ea oC a in a 
Lona Fe ca Mei kag | SANGRE SNP MRE Tf Fare Ah bee 1G ce aca 
om 4499 Shoalwater bay---------- Goyo Ten Stevens) -=- == == | pEsocssios (eDriGooperian===— eae 23. 00 7.75 
ARO) |LSaaee COS Sees oceceusend |Rapeetac done eee == | pera Sesoe | Boosoe Ce soaceeecses 21.00 7 50 
PODICEPS OCCIDENTALIS, Lawrence. 
The Western Grebe. 
Sp, Cu.—Winter. Upper part of the head and nape fialiginous black ; back and wing coverts greyish black, the feathers 
margined with grey ; primaries light ashy brown, darker at the end and white at base ; secondaries white, marked with ash on 
the outer webs ; in some specimens the middle secondaries are pure white; space between the bill and the eye grey ; throat, 
sides of the neck, and entire under plumage silvery white; sides marked with greyish black; bill dusky, appearing nearly 
black in the dried specimens, except on the cutting edges and 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, 36; wing from carpal joint, 83 ; bill, 3; tare.s, 3._ 
Hab.—Pacific coast from Washington Territory to California. 
There are six specimens in the collection, differing considerably in size, which I consider as 
being 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, judging 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 ‘‘ clarki’’ 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. 
List of specimens. 
; ] 
Catal. Locality. When col- | Whence obtained. |Orig.| Collected by— Length. | Stretch |Wing.| Remarks. 
No. lected. No. of wing. 
9927 | Bodega, Cal.------ Web. 1855)| "lee Trowbridges.|s-=.|beos-s.ee-aee Dae C0) | eeeeeee = TibOd| sees ae nee os 
4497 Shoalwater bay ---|t----------- Gov. Stevens...-|----| Dr. Cooper..--| 28.00 |-------- S.DUMenaeeeces see 
4498 B)_.-..- Glee eeooscod||asocSeacsoc |onace Os eee{= =i BA BEC ease a RE rcs ais Sei) MEAG oosoecosonS 
99252 | Ft Steilacoom, W.T.| Apl. 21, ’56 | Dr. Suckley.___- S20lee2t cae 29.00 | 36.00 | 8.36 |Irids,flame rd. 
092 Bans| tare at Ola eae cc ocllsosseses Soec | Gov. Stevens..--| 500| Dr. Suckley- -8| 78ne 228) Pease Pee Irids, orange. 
9544 | Puget’s Sound -..-| Oct. 12,’57 | A. Campbell-.-.|___- ‘Dr. Kennerlyoa)22- eee. |S ee eee Vie Oya ase ees 
992 6m eaeeee dawnt eaters Octawl0425 6h eDeMSuckley (+=. | se: -|ae a aneeen ee eee lp 2700 ecmenes SHOOn| ease. sense 
{ \ 
1 Bill dusky green above, greenish yellow on sides; outside of feet and tarsi dusky green, inside pale dingy greenish 
yellow. Bill to angle of mouth 3.75 ; tarsus, 3.50. 
