280 ZOOLOGY. 



largest on the tertiaries ; quill feathers and tail l)lackish brown, the latter edged with white; sides of the neck white, 

 speckled minutely with gray ; under pUmiage silky white, crossed on the lower part of the abdomen by a dusky band ; bill 

 bluish gray, dusky on the ridge and flesh colored at the base. Length, 20 inches ; extent, 30 ; iris blood red. 



Bih — During the winter as far south as Jlirylami ; inhabits as far north as tlie Arctic seas ; found also on the Pacific 

 coast. 



On the 20th of March, 1855, I ol.itaincd at Fort Dalles, Oregon, an immature bird, which 

 seemed to be of this species. Another was procured by Mr. Gibbs at Port Townsend, Puget 

 Sound. 



From the joint observations of Dr. Cooper and myself, it seems probable that the different 

 species of loons, as well as the grebes, are several years in acquiring their perfect adult 

 plumage. 



Another individual which I obtained at New Dungeness, Straits of Fuca, I had an excellent 

 opportunity of examining at a time it was attempting to escape from a shallow lagoon to the 

 open water of the straits by swimming through the narrow outlet. Although slightly wounded, 

 it moved so rapidly that I was obliged to run as fast as I could to keep up with it. At the 

 same time, as the water was clear and shallow, I was able to watch its motions distinctly. It 

 had the head and neck extended nearly perfectly straight, the bill acting as a "cut-water," 

 and, in addition to the ordinary propulsion by the feet, used the wings exactly as if flying. 

 Indeed, the bird was flying through Avater instead of air. This habit is probably common to 

 all the Colymhidae. — S. 



Sub-Family PODICIPINAE.— The Grebes. 



PODICEPS CRISTATUS, (Linn.) Lath. 



Grested Orebe. 



Colymhus cristaius, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, ITCti, 222. 



Podkeps crfstalus, Lath. lud. Orn. 17110.— Rich, c^c Kw. F. B. A. II, ISSl, 410 — Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 250.— AuD. Orn. 

 Biog. Ill, 1835, 5!)5; pi. 292.— In. Birds Am. VII, 1844, 308; pi. cccclxxix. -Baied & Law- 

 rence, Gen. Rep. Birds, p.8S3,var.?co"j>cri, S!)l. 



Sr. Cii. — Advlt: Front, upper part of the liead, and long occipital tufts dark umber brown, the base of the tufts brownish 

 red; the ruff is bright brownish red on the upper portion immediately under the tufts and anteiiorly, on the bind part 

 brownish black ; upper plumage dark umber brown ; humeral feathers white ; primaries umber brown ; secondaries mostly 

 white ; throat and sides of the head white ; fcie part and sides of the neck adjoining the ruff brownish red ; under plumage 

 silvery white ; sides dusky, tinged with reddish brown ; bill blackish brown, tinged with carmine ; bare loral space dusky 

 green ; iris bright carmine; tarsi and feet greenish bbick externally, greenish yellow internally ; webs grayish blue. 



Length, 19 to 20.50 inches ; extent, 33 to 34 ; wing, ":' ; bill, 2Jj, ; tarsus, 2J. Femrile smallest. 



Youn'j: Upper part of head dark brown; hind neck brownish gray; back and wings brownish black; humeral feathers 

 white ; primaries dark umber brown on the outer webs, paler on the inner ; lower parts silvery white, sides l:>rown ; upper 

 mandible brownish black, pale at the end and yellow on tiie sides at the base ; lower mandible yellow, with the sides dusky ; 

 feet liUuk, greenish yellow on inner side ; iris brown. 



Hah. — Atlantic States from Nova Scotia southward ; Texas in winter ; fur countries, Paeiiic side of the continent; Wash 

 ington Territory. 



In the notes on P. occidentaJis I have noticed all I remarked of this species. On the only 

 occasion when I saw them they were with the others, which they so closely resembled in 

 appearance that at a distance they were scarcely distinguishable. I could see also no diiference 

 in their cries or habits at that season, and never saw them at any other time or place. Al- 

 though killed late in March, both species were in the immature plumage, as were the many 

 specimens of the three species I obtained in the Territory at almost all seasons, except summer, 

 when they all disappear. — C. 



