CRESTED GREBE. 597 



dorsal line beyond it ascending and straight, sides erect, slightly convex, 

 tip acuminate, edges sharp. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, corripressed. Neck long, slender. 

 Body long and depressed. Feet short, large, placed close to the extremity 

 of the body ; tibia feathered to the joint ; tarsus extremely compressed ; 

 its anterior edge with a row of small scutella, the sides with broad scutella, 

 behind which are some irregular scales, the posterior ridge with a double 

 line of small prominent scales ; first toe very small with a posterior mem- 

 brane, fourth longest ; the toes scutellate above, connected at the base by 

 a membrane, and having on both sides an expanded web-like margin 

 marked with oblique lines, and having a crenated edge. Claws flat, that 

 of third toe broadest. 



Plumage very soft, blended, on the lower parts silky, on the back 

 glossy and rather compact. Two tufts of elongated feathers on the occi- 

 put, and a large frill on the sides and anterior portion of the neck at its 

 upper part. Wings small, acute ; primaries much curved, second longest, 

 first almost equal, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries short, rounded. 

 Tail a slight tuft of loose feathers. 



Bill blackish-brown tinged with carmine ; bare loral space dusky green, 

 as is the edge of the eyelids. Iris bright carmine. Feet greenish-black, 

 the webs greyish-blue. Upper part of the head and tufts greyish-black 

 tinged with green, as is the hind part of the ruff, its anterior part being 

 brownish-red ; sides of the head and the throat white ; fore neck white 

 tinged with brown ; breast silvery white, sides reddish-brown with dusky 

 streaks ; the upper parts are brownish-black, the feathers edged with 

 lighter, the sides of the neck tinged with reddish, as is the rump. Wing- 

 coverts greyish-brown, primary quills brownish-black, tips of the inner 

 white, the middle secondaries white. 



Length to end of tail 24 inches, to end of wings 91, to end of claws 

 29 ; extent of wings 33 ; wing from flexure 7j ; bill along the ridge 2, 

 along the edge of lower mandible Sf^ ; tarsus 2J ; third toe |, its claw |. 

 W^eight 2 lb. 9 oz. 



Adult Female in spring. Plate CCXCII. Fig. 2. 



The Female has the occipital feathers a little elongated, but wants the 

 ruff on the neck. Bill dusky green ; bare loral space, edges of eyelids, 

 and iris, as in the male. Upper part of head and hind neck blackish-grey ; 

 back and wings as in the male, but more tinged with grey ; lower parts 

 silvery white, the sides under the wings dusky. 



