668 BIEDS — PODOCIPIDJE. 



the complement of P. poAweps being from fonr to eight. That our seta were probably 

 fuU is indicated by the fact that one of them contained folly developed young, which 

 swam, and eme/n attempted to dive, on being placed in the water after removal from the 

 egg. The nests were similar tofthose of P. podiceps described below, and the eggs were 

 covered in like manner with decaying vegetation during the day and left for the sun to 

 incubate, 



" The young removed from these eggs presented slight, but constant diflferenoes in 

 the head and neck- markings, and the size ef the bill, as compared with the young of P. 

 podiceps, obtained in the same manner, those supposed to be P. comutus being smaller, 

 with more slender bills, less blotching about the head and neck, and none in the median 

 line of throat. 



" Mr. Porter has repeatedly taken similar eggs, two in a set, during the past four or 

 five years, but owing to the absence of the parent bird during the day, and its shyness 

 at night, has been unable to identify it." 



GEN08 PODILYMBUS. Lesson. 



Bill stout, epignathous, obtuse. Commissure deourved abruptly at end. Nostrils 

 broadly oval. Loral bare strip broad. Frontal feathers bristly. Tarsus not three- 

 fourths the middle toe. Semipabnation of toes extensive. Lobe of hnllnx moderate. 

 No decided crests or ruffs. 



PoDiLYMBue PODICEPS (L.) Lawr. 



I*ied.-billed Oabchiek. 



Podiceps o(»*oKjiejMi8,KrBTLAOT>, Ohio Gteolog. Surv., 1838, 166, 187. 



Podilymbus podiceps, Whbaton, Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1860, 371 ; Reprint, 1861, 13 ; Pood 

 of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Kep. for 1874, 575 ; Reprint, 1875, 15.— Lajsgdon, Cat . 

 Birds of Cin., 1877,18; Revised List, Joum. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 187; Re- 

 print, 11 ; Summer Birds, ib., iii, 1880, 231 ; Field Notes, ib., ii, 1880, 127. 



Colyaibus podiceps, LiNNiaus, Syst. Nat,, i, 1766, 223. 

 Fodilymbus podiceps, Lawrence, Birds N. Am., 1858, 898. 

 Podiceps carolinenms, Latham, Ind. Orn., ii, 1790, 785, 



Length, 12-14 ; wing, about 5 ; bill, 1 or less ; tarsus, 1^. Adult : Bill bluish, dusky 

 on the ridge, encircled with a black bar ; throat with a long black patch ; upper- parts 

 blackish-brown ; primaries ashy-brown, secondaries ashy and white ; lower-parts sUky- 

 white, more or less mottled or obscured with dusky; the lower neck in front, fore 

 breast and sides, washed with rusty. Young lacking the throat patch and peculiar 

 marks of the bill, otherwise not particularly different ; in a very early plumage with the 

 head curiously striped. 



Habitat, North, Central and part of South America. 



Abundant spring and fall migrant, and in many portions of the 

 State summer resident. Breeds. This bird is commonly known as the 

 Dipper, Water -witch or Devil-diver, and under one of these names is 

 known to every boy who has wandered with a gun along any of our 

 creeks and rivers. Their skill in diving is proverbial, as well as their 

 awkwardness when on land, which is very seldom. It is a popular 

 error that they are unable to fly. I have seen them rise from the 



