3!)0 NATATORES. PODICEPS. 



this family are unable to walk upon land, and they rarely of 

 their own accord come to shore, unless for the purpose of 

 reproduction ; and this is almost always effected on the im- 

 mediate margin of the water, or amidst the floating herbage 

 that covers many of the situations they inhabit. They swim 

 and dive with equal ease, and can remain for a long time 

 submerged. The genera at present assigned to this family 

 are two, viz. the Grebe (Podiceps), and Diver (Colymbus). 



GENUS PODICEPS, LATHAM. GREBE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL as long as, or longer than, the head, strong, slightly 

 compressed, strait, entire, hard, and pointed; the upper 

 mandible inclining slightly towards the tip ; the lower one 

 turning upwards from the -gonys, or angle ; tomia of both 

 mandibles bending inwards. Nostrils lateral, basal, linear, 

 pierced in the middle of the nasal fosse. Lorum, or space 

 between the corner of the bill and the eye, naked. 



Wings short, and concave. No tail. 



Legs placed at the posterior extremity of the body ; the 

 tibiae enclosed within the integuments of the abdomen. Tarsi 

 much compressed ; feet of four toes, three before, and one 

 behind ; the front toes much flattened, and each furnished 

 with a broad membrane ; which membranes become united 

 near the base ; outer toe longer than the middle one ; hind 

 toe articulated on the tarsus, and provided with a lobated 

 membrane. Nails large, flat, and broad. Plumage soft, 

 downy, thick ; with a silky lustre. 



In former systems, when the natural affinities which con- 

 nect the various Orders, Families, &c. together were neglect- 

 ed, or at least but imperfectly investigated, the Grebes, from 

 a fancied resemblance (for such it may properly be termed) 



