PODICIPID^E. LXV. 155 



FAMILY LXV. PODICIPID^E. 



(Tfa Grebes.) 



Bill usually slender, rarely stoutish; lores naked; 

 head often with crests, ruffs or ear tufts in the breeding 

 season. Back not spotted; under plumage lustrous, 

 mostly white. Wings very short. Tail rudimentary. 

 Feet four -toed, lobate, the toes webbed at base; toes 

 flattened, provided with flat claws resembling human 

 nails ; tarsus scutellate, compressed. Genera two ; 

 species about twenty; in all parts of the world, chiefly 

 about fresh waters. 



* Bill slender, straight, rather acute ; loral strip narrow ; head in 

 breeding season with conspicuous crests or ruff. 



COLTMBUS, 1. 



**Bill stout, somewhat hooked ; loral strip broad; no ruff nor 

 crest. . . PODILYMBUS, 2. 



/. COLYHBUS, Linnaeus. CRESTED GKEBES. 

 = Podiceps, Latham. 



1. C. cr/status, (L.) CRESTED GREBE. Upper parts 

 generally dark brown ; crest black ; throat and sides of 

 head white, becoming reddish on the ruff ; primaries 

 brown; secondaries mostly white ; silky white below, 

 not mottled ; L. 24 ; W. 8|; B. 2. Northern hemis- 

 phere; U. S. in winter. (Omit: not American.) 



2. C. holbolli, Reinhardt. RED-NECKED GREBE. Upper 

 parts brown; front and sides of neck rich brownish red; 

 throat and sides of head ashy; crests and ruffs not large; 

 below silvery ash, spotted or mottled; L. 18; W. 8; B. 

 If. N. Am., U. S. in winter. 



3. C. cornufus, Gm. HORNED GREBE. Dark 

 brown; head glossy black; a brownish yellow band over 

 eye and behind; fore-neck and breast brownish red; bill 



