432 THE DIVING BIRDS — PYGOPODES. 



Dytes auritus. 



THE HORNED GREBE. 



Colymbus auritus, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, I. 175S, 135 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 222. 



Dytes auritus, Ridgw. Nora. N. Am. 13. 1881, no. 732. 



Colymbus coniutus, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 591. 



Poditeps cornutus, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 171)0, 783. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 411. — Nutt. 



Man. II. 1834, 254. — Acd. Orn. Biog. 111. 1835, 429, pi. 259; Synop. 1839, 357 ; B. Am. 



VII. 1844, 316, pi. 481. — Lawi:. in Build's B. N. Am. 1858, 895. — BAIKD, Cat. X. Am. B. 



1859, no. 706. — Coues, Key, 1872, 337 ; Cheek List, 1S73, no. 611 ; ed. 2, 1882, no. 848 ; 



Birds N. W. 1874, 731. 

 Colymbus obscurus, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 592. 



Colymbus caspkus, S. G. Gmel. Reise, IV. 1774-1784, 137. — Gmel. S. N. 1. ii. 1788, 593. 

 Podiceps bicornis, Bkehm, \'<>g. Deutschl. 1831, 96, pi. 44, tig. 4. 



Hab. Northern hemisphere in general. Breeds in the Northern United States and northward. 

 Sp. Char. Adult, breeding-plumage : Head generally, including the fluffy tufts on each side of 

 the upper neck, slightly glossy dull greenish black, becoming gradually dull sooty slate on the 

 forehead ; lores dull ochraceous-rufous, communicating with 

 a broad superciliary stripe of bright ochraceous, which con- 

 tinues, gradually widening, to the sides of the occiput ; fore- 

 neck rich rufous. Upper parts dusky, the feathers sometimes 

 with indistinctly paler margins ; secondaries chiefly or entirely 

 white. Lower parts white, the sides mixed chestnut-rufous 

 and grayish dusky. " Bill bluish black, its tip yellow ; short 

 loral spare bright carmine, as is the iris, its inner margin 

 white ; edges of eyelids grayish blue ; feet dusky externally, 

 internally, and on anterior and posterior ridges of the tarsus 

 dull yellow ; claws dusky" (Audubon). Winter plumagi : 

 Pileum, nape, and sides of the juguliuu smoky slate ; under 

 part and sides of the head, lores, and lower parts generally, 

 white ; jugulum faintly shaded with pale grayish, and sides 

 clouded with dark grayish. Upper parts as in the summer 

 plumage, but more slaty. "Bill bluish gray, as is the bare loral space; the eye bright carmine, 

 with an inner white edge ; the feet, bluish gray" (Audubon). Doiony ymmrj (half-grown): 

 Pileum and nape dusky; sides of the head with two dusky stripes and several irregular splits of 

 the same color ; throat with a dusky streak mi each side. Otherwise similar in color to the winter 

 plumage. 



Total length, about 14.75 inches ; extent, 25.50 ; wing, 5.75 ; culmen, 1.00 ; tarsus, 1.75. 



This species, variously known among authors as the "Horned Grebe," the "Dusky 

 Grebe," and the "Sclavonian Grebe," is common to the northern portions of both 

 continents, and is found on the Pacific coast as far north at least as Vancouver, and 

 to Greenland on the eastern. It is equally common in the northern portions of 

 Europe and Asia in the summer, wandering in the winter farther south. It is rather 

 a rare bird in Great Britain during the summer, but is of more frequent appearance 

 in the winter, frequenting the coast and the marshy districts; and is not uncommon 

 in Ireland during the same season. It has been said to be resident in Scotland all 

 the year, but there is no recent evidence of the fact. Mr. Dunn found it extremely 

 rare in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, only noticing seven or eight. He describes 

 it as being a, very shy bird and a most expert diver — frequenting the sea, but 

 always remaining close to the rocks. When alarmed it dives to a great distance, and 

 on coming to the surface immediately takes wing. 



