Plate XCV. 



CENTROPELMA MICROJPTERUM. 



■m 



(LITTLE-WINGED GREBE). 



Podiceps micropterus 



Gould, P.Z.S. 1868, p. 220. 



Supra fusco-nigricans, plumis medialiter obscurioribus : crista capitis elongata et collo postico castaneis, plurnarum 

 apicibus fuscescentibus : alis extiis nigricantibus, secundariorum apicibus angustis et pogoniis interioribus totis albis : 

 subtus sericeo-album, fusco et rufescente perfusum, gula et collo autico pure albis : hypochondrioruni et uropygii 

 plumis ad basin albis, nigro terminatis et castaneo mixtis : tectricibus subalaribus albis : rostro, elongato, incurvo^ 

 crassiusculo, rubricanti-corneo ; mandibula flavicante : tarsi scutellis posterioribus longe eminentibus et spinosis : long, 

 tota 15"0, alse 4'5, tarsi 2'0, rostri a rictu 1"9, digiti externi cum ungue 2'8, medii 2 - 6, int. 21. 



Hah. in lacu Titicaca, Amer. merid. 



This very remarkable Grebe was discovered by Mr. David Forbes, F.RS., on the Lake of 

 Titicaca some years ago, and described by Mr. Gould at a meeting of the Zoological Society of 

 London on the 26th of March, 1868. It was referred by Mr. Gould to Podiceps, but presents so 

 many points of distinction from the known members of that group, that we have thought it right 

 to remove it to a new genus. 



Mr. Forbes has favoured us with the following note on this bird. 



" I found this Grebe in great numbers on Lake Titicaca — especially on the lower portion 

 or Lake of Huaqui— it is seen in large flocks of three or four hundred each. On the 17th of 

 May, 1862; when on the island of Piriti, I shot several specimens, amongst which were those 

 brought home to this country. The Aymaras call the bird ' Quinocaya! Its skin is much 

 valued by the Bolivians and used for saddle-cloths— seven skins making one saddle-cloth. The 

 bird is said to breed among the Tortoras — or large reeds, which abound in the lake." 



The general size of this bird >is rather less than that of the well-known Podiceps cristatus of 

 Europe. The bill is rather shorter than in that species, less compressed, and generally broader 

 throughout, particularly at the sides of the base of the upper mandible. These project con- 

 siderably and leave a distinct groove between themselves and the gonys, in the interior extremity 

 of which the nasal openings are placed. The nostrils are thus situated relatively much farther 

 forward than in typical Podiceps. The commissure, instead of being straight as in P. cristatus, 

 is much incurved in the terminal portion of the bill. 



The wings of this' Grebe, although perfectly formed, are remarkably diminutive, so as to 

 render the specific name which Mr. Gould has bestowed upon it particularly apposite. Although, 

 as we have already said, the bird is nearly of the size of P. cristatus, the wings are hardly larger 



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