4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
OrbER EYGORODE>: —Tue Divine ea 
age 1) 
Families. 
a’, Tail-feathers wanting. 
Anterior toes lobed, the nails very broad, flat, and with rounded tips. (Sub- 
Order Podicipedes)...scssuceconscescccescensrsrseeseeees Podicipide. (Page 4.) 
a’, Tail-feathers present, but short. (Suborder Cepphi.) 
BL. Hind toe present........csescessecereesseesssees eneaearr eres Urinatoride. (Page 6.) 
B, Hind toe absent .........ccsccescessecsecsecaseessantonceetesseesans Alcidez. (Page 8.) 
Famity PODICIPIDAL.—THE Greses. (Page 4.) 
Nest a thick matted platform of rushes, sedges, etc., usually floating upon the 
surface of the water in grassy or sedgy ponds or marshes. Eggs 2-5, dull white, 
bluish white, or very pale bluish green, usually stained more or less (often quite 
deeply) with light brown, by contact with decomposed vegetable matter. 
Genera. 
a’, Bill slender, the length of the culmen much more than twice the depth at the 
base. 
b'. Length of culmen five or more times as much as greatest depth of the bill; 
neck nearly as long as the body..........seeee f&chmophorus. (Page 4.) 
bo’. Length of culmen less than four times as much as greatest depth of the bill; 
neck much shorter than the body......cceceeeceeees Colymbus. (Page 5.) 
a’. Bill very stout, the length of the culmen less than twice as much as the greatest 
depth-of the bill scmscsoecssesedsccestwecsirnrweacdianceeces Podilymbus. (Page 6.) 
Genus ALSCHMOPHORUS Couns. (Page 4, pl. L, fig. 1.) 
Species. 
Common Cuaracters.—Pileum and cervix slaty black ; rest of upper parts slaty, 
inner webs of remiges chiefly white; entire lower parts, including lower half of 
head and all of neck except stripe down the cervix, pure satiny white. Downy 
young: Above uniform brownish gray, lighter anteriorly ; lower parts uniform white. 
a. Length 24.00-29.00 inches; wing 7.45-8.50 (average 8.07); culmen 2.60- 
3.05 (2.78). Eggs 2-5, 240 x% 154. Hab. Western North America 
(chiefly the interior) from Mexico and Lower California to Manitoba. 
1. ZE. occidentalis (Lawr.). Western Grebe. 
a’, Length about 22.00 inches; wing 6.70-7.75 (7.31); culmen 2.10-2.48 (2.25). 
£ggs 2-5, 216X141. Hab. Western North America, chiefly along Pacific 
(1.) COUBE casasausadsuamoagenesesinentigeries —. #E. clarkii (Lawr.). Clark’s Grebe. 
