202 PODICIPEDID^E. 



north as Concepcion on the Uruguay in winter, where Mr. Barrows 

 observed it in immense flocks frequenting the " Saladeros." 



Durnford gives us the subjoined account of this species : " I have 

 not observed this bird to the south of Buenos Ayres, but have con- 

 stantly seen it from March to July to the north of the city. Unlike 

 Larus maculipennis, it never wanders inland, but frequents the shallow 

 shores of the La Plata, feeding on dead fish or offal, and flocking round 

 the fishermen when they are hauling their nets to get a share of the 

 spoil. As a rule, this species does not mix with Larus maculipennis, 

 though now and then they are seen together; but all the flocks or 

 parties I have observed when flying from one spot to another have 

 always been composed of birds of its own kind. Adults, after once 

 attaining their pearl-grey hood, never lose it, though in winter it becomes 

 rather lighter, and those with white heads are immature birds, which 

 do not attain their full plumage till after their second moult. I have 

 seen many birds throughout May and June of the present year with 

 well-defined dark grey hoods. Some specimens, when first killed, have 

 a delicate faint pink tinge on their underparts, also observed in 

 L. maculipennis, which, however, quickly fades after death. The colour 

 of the iris varies a good deal in different examples, being pale grey, 

 grey with a tinge of yellow, and grey with a tinge of light wood-brown. 

 This is probably attributable to age. The narrow rim of naked skin 

 round the eye is dark coral-red ; legs and feet the same, but of a duller 

 shade ; beak rather darker than the legs." 



Order XVII. PYGOPODES. 



Fam. LI. PODICIPEDIMl, OR GREBES. 



The Grebes, although perhaps more especially a development of the 

 Arctic lands, are sparingly represented all through the tropics, and 

 reappear in augmented numbers south of the Antarctic circle. Within 

 the Neotropical Region nine to eleven species are met with, of which 

 five are found inside our limits. Three of these are peculiar Patagonian 

 species, the other two are widely spread over America. 



419. JECHMOPHORUS MAJOR (Bodd.). 

 (GREAT GREBE.) 



Podiceps bicornis, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 520 (Rio Parana), .ffichmo- 

 phorus major, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 150 j Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 203 



