410 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



NATATORES. 



[174.] 1. Podiceps cristatus. (Lath.) Crested Grebe. 



Genus, Podiceps, Lath. 



The Greater Dobchick (Colymbus major). Edwards, pi. 3C0. 

 Grebe huppe {Podiceps cristatus), Temm. ii., p. 717- 

 Podiceps cristatus, Bonap., Sy?i., No. 364. 



The Grebes are to be found in all the secluded lakes of the mountainous and 

 woody districts of the fur countries, swimming- and diving 1 with such dexterity, 

 that they have obtained the appellation of " water- witches." They have no 

 tails, and their leg's being- placed at the extremity of the body, they necessarily 

 assume an erect position on land. They walk badly, and rise from the ground 

 with difficulty. Their nests, formed of a large quantity of grass, placed among 

 reeds and carices, rise and fall with the water. They feed on small fish, frogs, 

 and insects. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a specimen, killed on the Saskatchewan. 



Colour. — Upper surface of the head, occipital crest, and ends of the lateral ruffs, greyish- 

 black. Bases of the latter and sides of the nape, brownish-red. Back of the neck, dorsal 

 plumage, and wings, blackish-brown. Upper border of the wing, tertiaries, and all the 

 secondaries, except three or four long posterior ones, a spot before the eye, the chin, sides 

 of the head, and under plumage of the neck and body white. The vent and sides under the 

 wing clouded with blackish-grey. Bases of the lateral ruffs brownish-orange. Bill yellowish, 

 the ridge of the upper mandible and gonys of the lower one reddish-brown ; tips of both 

 white. 



Form. — Bill, about the length of the head, strong, and tapering from the base, much 

 compressed towards the point; mandibles sloping equally to the tip; commissure straight. 

 Ruff conspicuous, but not large, situated on the sides and front of the throat. A short crest 

 on each side of the occiput. Neck long and slender. Posterior edge of the tarsus moderately 

 rough. 



Dimensions. 





Inch. 



Lin. 



Inch. 



Lin. 





Inch. Lin. 



Length, total 



23 







Length of bill to rictus . 2 



7 



Length of middle toe 



. 2 5§ 



„ of wing 



• 7 







„ from nostrils to tip I 



5 



„ of its nail . 



. 44 



„ of bill above . 



. 2 







,, of tarsus . . 2 



8 



,, of outer toe . 

 „ of its nail . 



. 2 8 

 4 



— Pv. 



