258 
COLYMBUS GBACIALIS. 
a few stripes of the same; the whole of the upper parts 
are of a deep black, sli^rhtly glossed with green, and 
thickly spotted with white, in regular transverse or 
semicircular rows, two spots on the end of each feather, 
— those on the upper part of the back, shoulders, runipi 
and tail-coverts, small and roundish, tWe on the centre 
of the hack, square and larger ; those on the scapular* 
are the largest, and of an oblong square shape ; the wing' 
feathers and tail are plain brown black, the latter 
composed of twenty featliers ; the lower parts are pure 
white, a slight dusty line across the vent ; the scapular* 
descend over the wing when closed, and the bellf 
feathers ascend so as to meet them, by which mean* 
every part of the wing is concealed, except towards thr 
tip ; the outside of the legs and feet is black, inside lea“ 
colour ; the leg is four inches in length, and the foa* 
measures, along the exterior toe to the tip of its chi'*’ 
four inches and three quartei’s ; both legs and feet 
marked with live-sided polygons; weightof the specinis® 
described, eight pounds and a half. 
The female diver is somewhat less than the malrl 
the bill is yellowish ; crown, back part of the neck, ao** 
whole upper jiarts, pale brown ; the plumage of part 
the hack and scapulars is tipt with pale ash ; th'' 
throat, lower side of the neck, and whole under part*' 
are white, but not so pure as that of the male, having'' 
yellowish tinge; the quill feathers dark brown. 
has no appearance of bauds on her neck, or of spots 
her body. 
The young males do not obtain their perfect plnu)*?' 
until the second or third year. One which we s»'*i 
and which was conjectured to be a yearling, I’*; 
some resemblance to the female, with the exception ^ 
its upper parts being of a darker and purer brown 
mouse colour, and its under parts of a more deli<’»‘J 
white ; it had likewise a few spots on the back n". 
scapulars ; but none of those markings on the dc*- 
which distinguish the full grown male. 
The conformation of the ribs and bones of this spec'*' 
is remarkable, and merits particular examination. 
