LOBIPEDES — PODICIPIDiE — HYDROKA. 277 



GENUS HYDROKA. Nuttall. 



Bill very stout, short, compressed, and strongly curved at the point. Nostrils somewhat 

 rounded. Tarsus robust, shorter than the inner toe. Inner and middle toe united by a 

 membrane extending beyond the first joint ; the outer and middle one equal in length. 

 With the other characters of the preceding genus. 



THE DIPPER. 



Hydeoka carolinensis. 

 plate cxli. fig. 308. 



Podiceps carolinensis. Lath. Pied-bill Grebe, Pennant, Arct. Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 497. 



P. id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 418. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 412. Aud. fol. pi. 248. 



P. (Hydroka) id. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 259. 



Sylbeocyclus id. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, p. 64. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 382. 



Podiceps id. Audobon, B. of Am. Vol. 7, p. 324, pi. 483. 



Characteristics. Feathers on the nape rather long. Bill with a black band. Chin and 

 throat black. Young: Bill plain ; chin white. Length, 14*0. 



Description. Bill 0*5 high at the base. Nostrils oval, sub-basal. Tarsus 1*6, much 

 compressed. Tail rudimentary; its place marked by a few hair-like feathers. 



Color. Above dusky brown ; back of the neck and rump darker. Wings reddish brown. 

 An oblong black patch, an inch and a half or two inches long, on the chin and throat. Base 

 of the neck and sides of the body brown, intermixed with black, grey and rufous ; beneath 

 silky yellowish white. An individual shot September 4 (fig. 308), exhibits some variations. 

 Sides of the head and neck brownish, with obsolete black spots, and streaked with white ; 

 chin and throat with a few spots of reddish brown ; flanks more tinged with rufous. 



Length, 13' 5 -14-5. 



The Dipper, or Pied Dobchick, is common in the ponds and lakes of this State, reaches us 

 about August, and ranges southwardly during the winter. It breeds in high northern latitudes, 

 and is very common in this State late in the summer and autumn. Its geographical range 

 is between the 26th and the 68th parallels. Peculiar to America, but closely allied to the 

 European species. 



