PODICIPEDID^ : GREBES. 
793 
dered still more so by the almost grotesque parti-colored rutfs and crests that most species 
possess. These ornaments are very transient ; old birds in winter, and the young, are very 
different from the adults in breeding attire. The eggs are more numerous than in other pygo- 
podous birds, frequently numbering 6-8 ; elliptical, of a pale or wliitish color, unvariegated ; 
commonly covered with chalky substance. The nest is formed of matted vegetation, close to 
the water, or even, it is said, floating among aquatic plants; the young swim directly. Grebes 
are the only cosmopolitan birds of the order, being abundantly distributed over the lakes and 
rivers of all parts of the world, though they are less maritime than the species of either of 
the other families. There are not over twenty-five well determined species. 
Analysis of Genera. 
Bill slender or only moderately stout, paragnatlious, acute. Nostrils narrow or linear. Loral bare strip 
narrow. Frontal feathers normal. Tarsus generally but little, if any, shorter than the middle toe — at 
least three-fourths as long. Semipalmation of toes moderate. Lobe of hallux broad. Usually with 
conspicuous crests or ruffs during the breeding season. 
Bill longer than heatl, extremely slender and acute. Tarsus equal to the middle toe and claw. 
Crests and ruffs slight. Large uEchmophorus 334 
Bill not longer than head, moderately stout. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. Crests 
and ruffs decided. Size over 10 inches Podicipes 335 
Bill much shorter than head, not two-thirds the tarsus, quite stout. Tarsus about three-fourths 
the middle toe. Outer and middle toes equal. No decided crests or ruflfs. Small; length 10 
inches or less Tacky baptes 
Bill stout, epignathous, obtuse. Nostrils broadly oval. Loral bare strip broad. Frontal feathers bristly. 
Tarsus not three-fourths the middle toe. Semipalmation of toes extensive. Lobe of hallux moderate. 
No decided crests or ruffs Podilymbus 336 
^CHMO/PHORUS. (Gr. aix^ii}, cnchmey a spear; cpopos, phoriis, bearing.) Spear-bill 
Grebes. Bill very long, exceeding the head, straight or slightly recurved, very slender and 
acute; culmen straight or slightly concave; commissure about straight, or slightly sinuate 
at base ; under outline concave at base, without protuberance at symphysis. Bare loral space 
extremely narrow. Wings comparatively long, with much attenuated outer primaries. Legs 
long; tarsus not shorter than bill, as long as middle toe and claw; basal w^ebbing of toes 
slight. Size large; neck very long; body slender. Crest and ruffs inconspicuous, not 
specially colored in our species. One species, western, of which two varieties may usually 
be recognized by the following characters : 
Analysis of Varieties. 
Large ; length (extreme) about 29.00 inches ; wing about 8.00; bill and tarsus each about 3.00. Bill equal 
to tarsus, straight, mostly dark olivaceous, brighter yellowish at tip and along cutting edges. Under 
outline of bill straight from base to the slight angle, gonys thence straight to tip. Lores ashy-gray. 
occidentalis 845 
Small: length about 22.00 inches; wing about 7.00; bill 2.25; tarsus 2.75. Bill shorter than tarsus, 
slightly recurved, under outline almost regularly convex from base to tip, with barely appreciable angle. 
Lores pure white . • clarki 846 
845. occidentalis. (Lat. occidentalis, western.) Western Grebe. Bill obscurely oliva- 
ceous, brighter along edges and at tip. Iris orange-red, pink or carmine, with a white ring. 
Hard parts of palate like bill ; soft parts purplish or lavender. Outer side and sole of foot 
blackish, rest dull olivaceous, more yellowish on webs. Forehead and lores dark silvery-ash. 
A short occipital crest and puffy cheeks, but neither bright-colored, agreeing with white and 
dark colors of the respective parts. Top of head and line down back of neck sooty-blackish, 
changing on upper parts into a lighter, more brownish black, the feathers of the back with 
grayish margins. Primaries mostly dark chocolate-brown, with white bases, their shafts 
white at base. Secondaries mostly white, but more or fewer of them dark on most or all 
of the outer webs. Sides under the wings washed with a pale shade of the color of the back. 
Lining of wings and whole under parts from the bill pure white, with satiny gloss. Length 
24.00-29.00 ; extent 40.00 or thereabouts ; wing about 8.00 ; bill, tarsus, middle toe and 
