’ 
THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 559 
PODICEPS, LatTHaAm. 
Podiceps, LATHAM, Ind. Ornith. (1790), 780. (Type Colymbus cristatus, L.) 
Bill long, slender, tapering, and pointed; nostrils situated in a groove, small, 
linear, and pervious; wings short and narrow, second primary a little the longest, 
emarginate near the ends; tail a tuft of loose feathers; tarsi short, much compressed, 
the edges covered with small scutellz, and the sides with broad transverse scutelle ; 
toes long, the outer longest, flattened, with the sides lobed, the most on the inner 
side, and at the base united by webs; hind toe short and broadly lobed, claws small, 
depressed, and obtuse. 
These birds mostly frequent the fresh-water rivers and interior lakes; but they are 
also found near the seacoast. They are very expert swimmers, but make progress 
with great difficulty on land; their flight is rapid and direct. In the breeding season, 
the head is ornamented with ruffs and elongated tufts, which disappear when they 
assume their winter garb. 
PODICEPS GRISEIGENA. — Gray. 
The Red-necked Grebe. 
Podiceps rubricollis, Nuttall. Man., II. (1834) 258. Aud. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 
617; V. (1839) 520. 0., Birds Am., VII. (1844) 312. 
DrEscrirrion. 
Adult. — Upper plumage blackish-brown, with the upper part of the head and 
hind-neck black; primaries ashy-brown, secondaries mostly white, a few of the inner 
ones dark-ash; cheeks and throat ash-gray; a white line extends from the lower 
mandible under and beyond the eye; forepart and sides of the neck rich brownish- 
red; lower parts silvery-white, with the sides dusky; bill black, paler at the end, 
and bright-yellow at the base; iris carmine; tarsi and feet externally greenish-black, * 
internally yellow. 
Young. — The upper plumage is blackish-brown, darker on the head; throat and 
abdomen white; sides of the head and forepart of neck brownish-ash; abdomen 
silky-white; sides dark brownish-ash; bill bright-yellow. 
Length about eighteen inches; wing, seven; bill, one and three-quarters; tarsi, 
two inches. 
Hab. — Fur countries and in the Atlantic States, as far south as Pennsylvania, in 
winter. 
The Red-necked Grebe is common on our coast in winter, 
where it is commonly called “ The Diver,” from its habit of 
diving at the flash of a gun. It feeds, like all other birds 
of this family, on small fishes and marine animals, which it 
obtains by diving; and such is its expertness and powers 
of endurance in this respect, that I have known it to remain 
certainly a minute beneath the surface, if not longer. It is 
