' PODICIPEBID^ : GBEBES. 793 



dered still rnore so by the almost grotesque parti-colored ruffs and crests that most species 

 possess. These ornameuts are very transient ; old birds iu winter, and the young, are very 

 different from tlio adults in breeding attire. The eggs are more numerous than in other pygo- 

 podous birds, frequently numbering 6-8 ; elliptical, of a pale or wliitish color, unvariegated ; 

 commonly covered with challty substance. The nest is formed of matted vegetation, close to 

 the water, or even, it is said, floating among aquatic plants ; the young swim directly. Grebes 

 are the only cosmopolitan birds of the order, being abundantly distributed over the lakes and 

 rivers of all parts of the world, though tlrey are less maritime than the species of either of 

 the other families. There are not over twenty-five well determined species. 



Analysis of Gevera. 



Bill slender or only moderately stout, paragnatbous, acute. Nostrils narrow or linear. Loral bare strip 

 narrow. Frontal feathers normal. Tarsus generally but little, if any, shorter than the niiihlle toe — at 

 least three-fourths as long. Semix)almation of toes moderate. Lobe of hallux broa<l. Usu;jlly with 

 conspicuous crests or ruffs during the breeding season. 



Bill longer than head, extremely slender and acute. Tarsus equal to the middle too and claw. 



Crests and ruffs slight. Large .Echmoplwms 334 



Bill not longer than head, moderately stout. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. Crests 



and ruffs decided. Size over 10 inches Podicijjes 33.5 



Bill much shorter than head, not two-thirds the tarsus, quite stout. Tarsus about three-fourths 

 the middle toe. Outer and middle toes equal. No decided crests or ruffs. Small ; length 10 



inches or less Tacliijbaptes 



Bill stout, epignathous, obtuse. Nostrils broadly oval. Loral bare strip broad. Frontal feathers bristly. 

 Tarsus not three-fourths the middle toe. Semipalmation of toes e.Kteusive. Lobe of hallu.x moderate. 

 No decided crests or ruffs Fodllijmbus 336 



334. ^CHMO'PHORUS. (Gr. alxMi uichme, a spear; ^opos, phonis, bearing.) Spear-bill 

 Grebes. Bill very long, exceeding the head, straight or slightly recurved, very slender and 

 acute ; culmeu straiglit or slightly concave ; commissure about straight, or slightly sinuate 

 at base ; under outline concave at base, witliout protuberance at symphysis. Bare loral space 

 extremely narrow. Wings comparatively long, witli inucli attenuated outer primaries. Legs 

 long ; tarsus not shorter than bill, as long as middle toe and claw ; basal webbing of toes 

 slight. Size large; neck very long; body slender. Crest and ruffs inconspiciKJUS, not 

 specially colored in our species. One species, western, of which two varieties may usually 

 be recognized by the following characters : 



Analysis of Varieties. 



Large ; length (extreme) about 29.00 inches ; wing about 8.00; bill and tarsus each about 3.00. Bill equal 

 to tarsus, straight, mostly dark olivaceous, brighter yellowish at tip and along cutting edges. Under 

 outline of bill straight from base to the slight augle, gonys thence straight to tip. Lores ashy-gray. 



occUlentalis 845 



Small: length about 22.00 inches; wing about 7.00; bill 2.25; tarsus 2,75. Bill shorter than tarsus, 

 slightly recurved, under outline almost regularly convex from base to tip, with barely appreciable angle. 

 Lores pure white ciarki 846 



845. 2E,. occiclenta'Us. (Lat. oceidentalis, western.) Westeen Grebe. Bill obscurely oliva- 

 ceous, brighter along edges and at tip. Iris orange-red, pink or carmine, with a white ring. 

 Hard parts of palate like bill ; soft parts purplish or lavender. Outer side and sole of foot 

 blackish, rest dull olivaceous, more yellowish on webs. Forehead and lores dark silvery-ash. 

 A short occipital crest and puffy cheeks, but neither bright- colored, agreeing with white and 

 dark colors of the respective parts. Top of head and line down back of neck sooty -blackish, 

 changing on upper parts into a lighter, more brownish black, the feathers of the baclj with 

 grayish margins. Primaries mostly dark chocolate-brown, with white bases, their shafts 

 white at base. Secondaries mostly white, but more or fewer of them dark on most or all 

 of the outer webs. Sides under the wings waslied with a pale shade of the color of the back. 

 Lining of wings and whole under parts from tlie bill pure white, witli satiny gloss. Length 

 24.00-39.00; extent 40.00 or thereabouts; wing about 8.00; bill, tarsus, middle toe and 



