202 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
axillaries pure white; “bill black, crimson at the tip and at 
the base of the under mandible ; bare space between the eyes 
and the base of the bill crimson ; legs and feet olive-green, 
palest on the webs ; iris crimson ” {Scebohm). Total length, 
12X3 inches; culmen, 0-9; wing, 5-5; tail, i'6; tarsus, rS. 
^ Mr. E. VV. Nelson .says that specimens obtained by him near 
Nulato, in Alaska, had the eyes of the following brilliant 
colours “ The ball of the eye white ; a bright scarlet areola 
around the outer edge of the iris, which latter is defined by a 
white line. The iris proper is bright crimson, with its inner 
edge brilliant white shaded with pink. The pupil consists of 
a central black spot, with a broad ring of dark purple.” 
Adult Female.— Similar to the male. Total length, 11-5 
inches ; wing, 5-6. 
Winter Plumage. — General colour above blackish, slightly 
shaded with grey on the edges of the feathers ; the head devoid 
of ornamental plumes ; crown and neck black, the feathers of 
the former a little full towards the nape ; lores and sides of 
crown to the line of the eye black ; throat white, like the side 
of the face, and extending on to the sides of the neck ; re- 
mainder of under surface of body silky-white, with a little 
dusky brown on the lower throat below the line of the tippet 
which is indicated by the white feathers of the throat and face; 
sides of neck black ish-browm ; sides of body mottled with 
greyish-black tips to the feathers; “bill dark hornv, pinkish 
towards the base, paler at the tip; tarsi and feet pe'arly-grey, 
outer sides of tarsi, outer toe, and joints blackish ; iris blood- 
red” (IF. R. Ogilvie Guxnt).* 
Young Birds m Winter. — Resemble the adults, but are much 
browner, especially on the flanks and lower abdomen ; sides 
of face dusky-white, not pure white as in the adults ; feathers 
under the eyes and lores black ; feet, in dried skin, with a good 
deal of yellow about the toes. 
Characters. — The old birds are distinguished from the other 
British Grebes by the black head and tippet, the tawny chestnut 
bands forming the crest on each side of the crown, and the 
deep chestnut throat and fore-neck. In winter the resem- 
* On the changes of pKim.ige in this .species, cf. J. G, Mil'.iis, It, is, 
1896 , pp. 454-457- 
