PODICIPIDyE — THE (iKEBES — DYTES. 



431 



Genus DYTES, Kaup. 



Dijtcs, Kaup, Sic. Ent. Eur. Tliierw. 1829, 4i) (type, Cobjinbus cornutns, G.mel. = C. uurilus, Linn.). 

 Prodopus, Kaup, 1. c. (type, Podlceps iLigricolIis, Bp.khm). 

 Olodytcs, Reich. Syst. Nat. 1853, p. iii (same type). 



Char. Size small (wing 5.00 to G.OO inches) ; neck much shorter than the body ; bill much 

 shorter than the head, the ciilmen equal to about three to three and a lialf times the basal depth ; 

 tarsus about as long as the middle toe without the claw. Breeding-plumage ornamented with 

 colored tufts and patches about the head. 



D. auritus. 



Two well-marked species of this genus occur in North America, their characters being as 

 follows : — 



1. D. auritus. Bill compressed (deeper than wide at the base). Breeding-plumage : Lower 



neck and jugulum rufous; sides of occiput with very full tuft of dense, soft, blended 

 ochraceous feathers. Hab. Northern hemisphere. 



2. D. nigricollis. Bill depressed (wider than deep at the base). Breeding -plumage : Lower 



neck and jugulum black ; sides of head behind eyes Avith a tuft-like patch of slender 



acicular ochraceous feathers. 

 a. Three or four inner primaries mostly or entirely white. Hah. Palsearctic Region, 



and Greenland. Nigricollis. 

 )3. Inner primaries with inner -welj.s wholly dusky ; colors decidedly duller, and bill 



slenderer. Hah. Western N(ntli America. Ccdifornicus. 



