160 



EARED GREBE. 



It is said to inhabit mountainous and rocky situations, and not woods, 

 being- rarely known to perch on trees. 



It preys on hares, rabbits, moles, and other inferior animals ; and 

 even snakes and toads. The egg's are said to be larger than those of a 

 hen, mottled like the bird ; and that only two are found in a nest. 



Dr. Latham has mentioned three varieties, one of which has the legs 

 bare of feathers ; and he considers the black-winged horn owl of Albin 

 to be a mere variety. 



EARED GREBE (Podiceps auritus, Latham.) 



Colymbus auritus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 222. 8. — Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 590. — Podiceps 



auritus, Ind. Orn. 2. p. 781. 3 Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 723 Colymbus 



auritus, Briss, 6. p. 54. 6. — lb. 8vo. 2. p. 372 Le petit Grebe huppe Buff. 



Ois. 8. p. 235 Eared Dobchick, Edw. t. 96. f. 2 Eared Grebe, Br. Zool. 2. 



No. 224. t. 79 lb. fol. 133 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 499. B Lath. Syn. 5. p. 285. 



4 Wale. Syn. 1. t. 104 Lewin's Br. Birds, 5. t. 107 Don. Br. Birds, 2. t. 



29 — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 132 Colymbus cristatus minor. — Briss. 6. p. 42. 3. 



t. 3. f. 2 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 369. 



To Colonel George, of Penryn, in Cornwall, we are indebted for a 

 very fine male specimen of this bird, shot on the 15th of March, 1811, 

 so that we may fairly conclude, as it was so near the breeding season, 

 that its plumage was fully matured ; we shall therefore give a description 

 of this bird, and then point out the material distinction between the 

 two species. 



The weight was one pound ; the length thirteen inches and a half. 

 The bill is black, an inch in length to the feathers on the fore- 

 head, a little reflected ; the upper mandible is nearly straight at the 

 point, the lower mandible decreases at about a quarter of an inch from 

 the end, and from thence forms a conic point, which makes the bill 

 appear to reflect more than it actually does ; the lore is black ; irides 

 bright scarlet ; head and neck black ; chin spotted with white ; the 

 sides of the head furnished with long slender yellow feathers, com- 

 mencing behind the upper part of the eye, and extending downwards 

 for more than an inch ; these flow backwards, the lower series are 

 shaded to a deep orange ; the black feathers on the forehead and crown 

 are long and terminate abruptly as if cut with a pair of scissors, form- 

 ing an obtusely conic crest ; the back, scapulars, and coverts of the 

 wings dusky black : the first six quills are dusky black ; the next three 

 black only on the outer web, the inner web white ; the lower part of 

 the neck before is mottled black and white ; the sides of the breast, and 

 sides of the body, are similarly marked, the latter interspersed with 

 ferruginous ; legs and feet dusky. 



This, like most of the genus, is subject to some variety. In some 

 the heads and tufts behind the eyes are brown ; sides of the head white; 



