276 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE RED-NECKED GREBE. 



PoDICEPS RUBRICOLUS. 

 PLATE CXLI. FIG. 307. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Cabinet of the Ltcettm.) 



Colymbus rubricoliis et subcristatus, Gmelin. 



Todiceps id. Latham, Ind. Om. Vol. 2, p. 783. Id. Gen. Hist. Vol. 10, p. 27, pi. 166. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. 



N. Y. p. 417. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 411. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 253. 



Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 7, p. 312, pi. 480. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 384. 



Characteristics. Crested. Bill short; neck reddish beneath ; front black. Adult: Cheeks 

 and throat ash ; crown and neck behind black : no ruff. Young, dull 

 colored and spotted : cheeks and throat white ; the former spotted with 

 dusky. Length, 18*5, 



Description. Bill stout, tapering from the base, 2*0 long and 0"6 high : a series of 

 short parallel oblique ridges in the furrow anterior to the nostrils. Tufts on each side of the 

 occiput disposed in a curved line, truncated behind, and composed of loosely webbed feathers. 

 Tarsus much compressed, carinate on both edges, and 2' 3 long. 



Color. Bill black, yellow at base : feet yellow. Front, crown, crest and line down the 

 back of the neck black tinged with green. Back and parts above brownish black. Cheeks, 

 chin and throat ash-grey passing into white, spotted with brown under the eye. A bright 

 chesnut-colored spot on each side of the neck, and in the full plumage this is dilated over the 

 whole neck and breast. Secondaries white along their centres. The specimen (fig. 307), 

 shot September 28, in the neighborhood of the city, is in a state of plumage I have no where 

 seen described. It was a mate. Chin white, passing into light ash-grey on the sides of the 

 face and throat,. Frontlet, crown and middle of the neck brown, with the slightest tinge of 

 . rufous. Above deep blackish brown ; the feathers margined with greyish. Secondaries 

 white ; shafts black, tipped gradually with more black. Sides of the rump black, striate 

 with white ; beneath soiled greenish glossy white. 



Length, 1,7' 0-18-0. 



The Red-necked Grebe is a northern species which occurs rarely on the coast of this State 

 in winter, and has scarcely been seen farther south. Dr. Kirlland has observed them in Ohio. 

 It is a rare species. Its food and habits resemble those of the preceding. It ranges from. 

 40° to 68° north. Common to Europe and America. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



P. auritus, Lath. (Nutt. Vol. 2, p. 256.) Crested. Black: secondaries white ; inner quills white 

 on the inner vanes; neck and breast black; crest and ruff very short, black: a long slender tuft of 

 reddish feathers behind and beneath each eye. Young, white beneath. Length, 12-0. 



