ZOOLOGY. 283 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS, (Linn.) Luwr. 



The Plrd-BllI Grebe. 



CoUnxbus podkeps, Linn. S. N. 1766, 223. 



I'odkepscaTolinenm, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 785.— Bonap. Syn. 1828, No. 367.— Rich. & Svv. F. B. A II, 1831, 412 — 

 NCTT. Man. II, 1834, 259.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 359: V, 1839, 624.— Ib. Birds Am. VII, 

 1844,324; pi. cccclxxxiii. 

 Podilymbus lineatus, Heeemann, Proc. Acad. N. S. Phil. VII, 1854, 179. 

 Podilymbus Podkeps, Baibd & Lawrence, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 898. 

 " Sp. Ch — Adult: Upper plumage very darlc brown; primaries darli asli; secondaries ash on tlie outer webs and white on 

 the inner; bill pale blue, dusky on the ridge of the upper mandible, both mandibles crossed with a broad black band, 

 including the nostrils; chin and throat marked with a conspicuous black patch nearly two inches in extent; cheelis and sides 

 of the neck brownish gray; lower part of the neck, upper part of the breast, and the sides, dull rusty brown, spotted and 

 rather indistinctly banned with brownish blaclv; lower part of breast and abdomen grayish white, mottled witli dusky spots; 

 iris, brown ; tarei and feet, grayish black. 



"Length, 14 inches; wing, 5J; bill, |; tarsus 1^. 



" Young: Tlie throat is white and the bill without the transverse black band, the under plumage more silvery white; in 

 other respects the same as the adult. Some specimens, probabl)- the birds of the year, have whitish lines on the sides of the 

 head. I compared a specimen in this plumage witli Dr. Heciniann's type of P. lineatus, and found them precisely alike." — 

 ZavTence. 



Hab. — Atlantic States generally. Texas and New Mexico. California and Oregon. 



Several specimens of the pied-bill grebe were obtained by me at Fort Steilacoom. 



In winter it frequent.? the salt waters of the sound, but in summer breeds abundantly on the 

 small fresh water lakes of the vicinity. — S. 



While at the Straits of De Fuca, in March, 1855, I frequently heard in the marshes along 

 shore a loud noise much like the squeaking of young pigs, and, though often very near me, I 

 could never see what produced it. Soon after I noticed the dabchicks in the ponds, and heard 

 them utter their loud, sonorous call, more like the braying of a jackass than anything else I can 

 compare it to. Though the sounds before heard were different, I have little doubt that this 

 little bird was the performer, probably entirely sunk under water except its bill. 



In the small and beautiful lakes near Puget Sound they were abundant, commonly a pair in 

 each; and on the 11th June I had the pleasure of finding a nest containing four eggs, just ready 

 to hatch. It was, unlike that seen by Audubon, built upon the ivater, where it floated securely, 

 kept in place by the stalks of spirea which grew thickly around it. Being constructed entirely 

 of stalks of grass, it was soaked through with water, but, as the pond was stagnant, the water 

 was warm enough not to prevent the hatching of the eggs. Its shape was conical, a foot wide 

 at the base and about nine inches at the top, where it was slightly hollowed out. Since its 

 construction it must have subsided with the water two feet, though there was still three feet 

 depth of water under it. The eggs were as large as a pullet's, white, with a pale brown crust, 

 and nearly equal in size at each end. 



As the lakes often are frozen for a very short time only, and the rivers not at all in mild 

 winters, this grebe may sometimes remain throughout the year. — C. 



Family ALCIDAE.— The Auks and Puffins. 

 MORMON CIRRHATA, (Pallas,) Bon. 



The Tufted Puffin. 



Alca cinhaUi, Pallas, Spicilegia Zoologica, pt. V, p. 7, (1769,) Gm. Syst. 1, 1788, 553. 

 Moniwn cinhatus, Bon. Syn. 1828,429.— AuD. Orn. Biog. Ill, 699; pi. 293.— Ib. Syn. 343. 

 Mormon cirrhala, (Pallas,) Baikd & Cassix, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 902. 

 FiGUKES.— Buff. PI. Enl. 761.— AuD. B. of Am. pi. 249: oct. ed. VII, pi. 462. 



