273 
Dr. E. Coues— From Arizona to the Pacific. 
than birds. The babbles of air clinging all over their backs 
gives them a beautiful spangled appearance; and when emerging 
from the sea, with a slight shiver of the feathers these spangles 
disappear; the water rolls away too, and the feathers are as dry 
as though they had not been submerged. A common habit 
with all the Loons is to swim slowly about with the neck grace¬ 
fully curved, and the bill thrust up to the eyes in the water. 
What this is for I really do not know; certain it is I never saw 
them take fish or other food in this way. They seemed to be 
simply tasting the water. 
The species we saw were C. torquatus (or glacialis , as Mr. 
Sclater would contend), C. septcntrionalis , and C. pacificus. 
Concerning this last, there is now really no doubt, I think, that 
it is a species exceedingly closely related to C. arcticus , and in 
fact scarcely to be distinguished except by some differences of 
dimension, as stated in my “ Review of the Colymbidce and 
Podicipidcc Mr. Lawrence's types were young birds; but 
dozens of mature ones, in breeding-plumage, which I have 
examined, show precisely the pattern of coloration that obtains 
in adult C. arcticus. 
The Grebes we saw were JEchmophorus occidentalis and Podi- 
ceps californicus, both of which were very common, the latter 
the most so, on the lagoons back from the sea as well as on the 
bay. The first named is a splendid-looking bird on the water, 
riding very lightly, its long neck held erect, the bill pointing 
horizontally forwards. This length of neck makes the motion 
during the act of diving a very peculiar one; and not one of them 
ever was quick enough to escape my shot. They fly with both 
neck and feet outstretched. It is a pity the colours of some 
parts change in drying; they are so very beautiful. The iris is 
bright orange-red, with a shade of pink; and on widely separating 
* Vide Proc. Acad. Philad. April 1862, p. 28. Dr. Cooper has obli¬ 
gingly furnished me, from his MS. notes, the following description:— 
“ Adult female, San Diego, Cal., May 6. Differs from C. arcticus, as 
figured and described by Audubon, in the smaller size; spots on wing- 
coverts oblong, not round; outer edge of quill black, not grey; tail black. 
Purple of throat rounded below instead of pointed. No black and white 
streaks on front of neck. Tarsi and feet black. The webs and outside of 
the feet bluish in life.” 
N. S.— VOL. If. 
T 
