ccx PoDiciPiD^. BIRDS. AioiD®. 
RED-THROATED DIVER [Colymius septentrionalis). 
— 'I’liis Diver is found disposed over tlie entire regions 
of ISTortliern Europe and America. 'I’lie throat is 
distinguislied by a large chestnut-colored patch in 
front. 'I'lie hind neck is sharply streaked with white 
on a blackish ground ; the bill is black. 
Family— PODICIPID AH. 
The Grebes. 
WESTERN GREBE [Podiceps occidentalis). — ^'J’his 
Grebe is abundant on the Pacific Coast of the United 
States. Its length is about thirty inches ; extent of 
wings, thirty-six. In the breeding season the adult 
has a short occipital crest. A variety (clarki) 
found in the same region is smaller, with some 
difi'erences in color of plumage and in the })roportions. 
CRESTED GREBE [Podiceps cristatus). — Gommon 
throughout North America. Its length is about 
twent.y-four inches ; extent of wings, thirty-four. 
RED-NECKED GREBE (P. griseigena; var. holbolli). 
— This is common in North America. Length, about 
eighteen inches. 'I'here is a slight ruffling of the 
crown feathers. 
HORNED GREBE (P. cornutus) is abundant 
throughout North America. Its length is fourteen 
inches; extent of wings, twenty-four. 
EARED GREBE (P. auritus). — This is common on 
the Pacific Coast in winter, but is mostly found in 
the Arctic regions. It is about the same in size and 
proportions as the preceding. 
ST. DOMINGO GREBE (P. dominicns). — Found in 
Central America, the West Indies, Southern Colo- 
rado and Lower California. Its length is nine and a 
half inches. Described by Dr. Cones as Sylbeocyclus. 
DAB -CHICK; PIED -BILL GREBE [Podilymbus 
podiceps). — This is not only honored with a separate 
generic name, but it is known by several trivial 
appellations, as Dijiper, Diedapper, Water-witch. It 
is very abundant in North America. Length, twelve 
to fourteen inches. 
Family — ALCIDiE. 
THE GREAT AUK [Alea impennis) — Plate IX, 
fig. xxiii. — 'I’his bird is notable in the sense that it 
has ceased to exist, so far as its history is cognizant, 
and is noteworthy as being the expression of the 
lowest of its class known to the North American 
continent — as the Penguin of the Antarctic regions 
represents the lowest of all. 'I’he Northern Penguin, 
as the Great Auk is sometimes designated, is now 
so rare in collections that each individual has its 
history and price, or, as in some instances, is 
absolutely priceless. Some time not long since, a list 
of the existing specimens owned by institutions or 
persons, was published, which exhibited oidy sixty 
in number. No living specimen has been obtained 
for over forty years. In 1869 the large sum of $625 
was paid, in London, by the American Museum of 
Natural History, New York, for the specimen from 
which our illustration is taken.. 'I'heMength of the 
Great Auk is about three feet; its wing is only four 
inches long. It inhabited the highest latitudes, and 
was at one time abundant in the Arctic seas, 'i’he 
ancient shell-heaps that are so numerous along tlie 
Atlantic Coast show abundant remains of this bird, 
even as far south as the New England shores. Nut- 
tall, in 1834, records this bird as then breeding in 
great numbers. “As a diver he is unrivalled,” he 
says, “ having almost the velocity of birds in the 
air. 'I’hey breed in the Faroe Islands and in Ice- 
land, Greenland and Newfoundland, nesting among 
the cliffs, and laying but one egg each. 'I’hey are so 
unprolific that if this egg be destroyed, no other is 
laid during that season.” Here, then, is a competent 
cause of extinction, which, in connection with great 
destruction of life among the adults, may well have 
operated to that result. “ 'I'he Auk,” Nuttall con- 
tinues, “ is known sometimes to breed in the Isle of 
St. Kilda ; and in Papa Westra, according to Mr. 
Bullock, for several years past no more than a single 
pair had made their appearance.” It is supposed 
that the last of this species seen alive were at the 
Funks, a small island off the coast of Newfoundland. 
In 1844, the last specimen known to be alive on the 
Eastern continent was seen in Iceland. In 1870 a 
specimen was found dead at Labrador. 'I'hough in 
poor condition, it was sold in England for $200. 
'I'lie only specimens known as being in this country 
are in the following institutions : American Museum 
of Natural History, New York; Vassar College, 
Philadelphia Academy, Smithsonian Institute, and 
Cambridge University. 'I’he egg is also preserved 
in several of the museums. 
RAZOR-BILLED AUK [Utamania torda) — called 
also 'I’lNKER — is found abundantly on tlie rocky 
shores of the North Atlantic, coming south in win- 
ter as far as the Middle States. 
PENGUIN [Aptenodytes patagonica) — Plate IX, 
fig. xxiv. — 'I’his is the lowest of the class of Bird.s. 
Its fish-like “paddles,” or rudimentary wings, close 
scale-like plumage, and extremely terminal feet and 
legs, show how completely it is formed to be an ex- 
clusively aquatic creature — as much so even as the 
Seal, whose life and habits are quite similar. 'I’his 
bird is an inhabitant of the Southern hemisphere, 
found in the extreme Antarctic regions, and is there- 
fore not within the group of the birds of North Amer- 
ica. Its exceedingly interesting nature and position 
in the natural system, however, render it quite worthy 
of attention here. 'I’he name of the Penguin is 
derived from the term pen-wing or pin-wing. 'I’he 
word is extant in England at the present, and is 
equivalent to pinioning or “pin-winging” — to deprive 
of pinions. 'I’he word pen-wing is said to be in use in 
Newfoundland yet, relating to the Auk. For furtlier 
account of this bird, see Vol. 1, p. 426. 
HORNED PUFFIN [Fratercula corniculata). — 'I’his 
is the Mormon glacialis of Audubon. It is found on 
the coast of the North Pacific. Length, fourteen 
and a half inches. 
COMMON PUFFIN; SEA PARROT [F. arcticus).— 
Abundant on the North Atlantic Coast. Length, 
tiiirteen and a half inches. A variety, glacialis, is 
rather larger. 
