568 BIRDS—PODOCIPIDZA. 
the complement of P. podiceps being from four to eight. That our sets were probably 
full is indicated by the fact that one of them contained fully developed young, which 
swam, and even attempted to dive, on being placed in the water after removal from the 
egg. The nests were similar to those of P. podiceps described below, and the eggs were 
covered in like manner with decaying vegetation during the day and left for the sun to 
incubate, 
‘‘The young removed from these eggs presented slight, but constant differences in 
the head and neck-markings, and the size of the bill, as compared with the young of P. 
podiceps, obtained in the same manner, those supposed to be P. cornutus being smaller, 
with more slender bills, less blotching about the head and neck, and none in the median 
line of throat. 
‘‘ Mr, Porter hasrepeatedly taken similar eggs, two in a set, during the past four or 
five years, but owing to the absence of the parent bird during the day, and its shyness 
at night, has been unable to identify it.” 
GENUS PODILYMBUS. Lesson. 
Bill stout, epignathous, obtuse. Commissure decurved abruptly at end. Nostrils 
broadly oval. Loral bare sirip broad. Frontal feathers bristly. Tarsus not three- 
fourths the middle toe. Semipalmation of toes extensive. Lobe of hullux moderate. 
No decided crests or ruffs. 
PODILYMBUs PopIcEPS (L.) Lawr. 
| Pied-billed DWabchick. 
Podiceps carolinensis, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 166, 187. 
Podilymbus podiceps, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 371; Reprint, 1861, 13; Food 
of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 575; Reprint, 1875, 15.—LANGDON, Cat. 
Birds of Cin., 1877,18; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 187; Re- 
print, 11; Summer Birds, ib., iii, 1880, 251; Field Notes, ib., ii, 1880, 127. 
Colymbus podiceps, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 223. 
Podilymbus podiceps, LAWRENCE, Birds N. Am., 1858, 898. 
Podiceps carolinensis, LATHAM, Ind. Orn., ii, 1790, 785. 
Length, 12-14; wing, about 5; bill, 1 or less; tarsus,i4. Adult: Bill bluish, dusky 
on the ridge, encircled with a black bar; throat with a long black patch; upper- parts 
blackish-brown ; primaries ashy-brown, secondaries ashy and white; lower-parts silky- 
white, more or less mottled or obscured with dusky; the lower neck in front, fore 
breast and sides, washed with rusty. Young lacking the throat patch and peculiar 
marks of the bill, otherwise not particularly different; in a veryearly plumage with the 
head curiously striped. 
Habitat, North, Central and part of South America. 
Abundant spring and fall migrant, and in many portions of the 
State summer resident. Breeds. This bird is commonly known as the 
Dipper, Water-witch or Devil-diver, and under one of these names is 
known to every boy who has wandered with a gun along any of our 
creeks and rivers. Their skill in diving is proverbial, as well as their 
awkwardness when on land, which is very seldom. It is a popular 
error that they are unable to fly. I have seen them rise from the 
