THE EED-NECKED GREBE. 559 



PODICEPS, Latham. 



Podiceps, Latham, Ind. Ornith. (1790), 780. (Type Cohjmhus 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 scutellfe, and the sides with broad transverse scutellre; 

 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 rufl's and elongated tufts, which disappear when they 

 assume their winter garb. 



PODICEPS GRISEIGENA.— Gra?/. 



The Red-necked Grebe. 



Podiceps rubricoUts, Nuttall. Man., II. (1834) 253. Aud. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 

 617 ; V. (1839) 520. lb., Birds Am., VIL (1844) 312. 



Description. 



Adult. — Upper plumage blackish-brown, with the upper part of the head and 

 hind-neck black ; primaries ashy-brown, secondaries mostlj- 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, ' 

 internall}' 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 

 Bilkj'-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, 

 ■vfhere 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 



