Chapter 15

Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, much compressed, with the nasal plate somewhat carinate and concave; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers; bill yellow, with the nasal plate, half of the unguis of the upper mandible, and the tip of the lower black; feet yellow, claws brownish-black; plumage greyish-blue, paler on the lower parts, neck, and head; primary quills and their coverts blackish-grey. Differs from the last chiefly in the form and colour of the bill.

Length, 181/2; wing, 13; tail, 5; bill, 21/12.

Off the Columbia River. Common.

Slender-billed Fulmar, Procellaria tenuirostris,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 333.

Slender-billed Fulmar, Procellaria tenuirostris,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 333.

GENUS IV. PUFFINUS,Briss.SHEARWATER.

Bill of the length of the head, rather slender, nearly as deep as broad at the base, much compressed toward the end, nearly straight, being slightly recurved, with the tips decurved; upper mandible with a cere at the base, extending narrow to the nostrils, which are dorsal, each covered with a lateral convex plate, and opening anteriorly, with an elliptical aperture, dorsal line as far as the nostrils nearly straight, then suddenly deflected, afterwards slightly concave, towards the end decurved, the ridge very broad and convex at the base, narrower beyond the nostrils, from which a groove runs obliquely on each side, sides convex, nearly erect, edges sharp, tip or unguis strong, decurved, much compressed, very acute; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, thesides sloping outwards, the edges sharp and inflected, the unguis decurved, acute. Head rather large, oblong; neck rather short; body moderate. Feet rather large; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, reticulated with angular scales; hind toe obsolete, but with a small conical deflected claw; fore toes long, slender, connected by webs; outer toe slightly longer than third. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, close, elastic, rather compact above. Wings very long, narrow, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, graduated, of twelve rounded feathers.

464. 1. Puffinus cinereus,Lath.Wandering Shearwater.

Plate CCLXXXIII.Male.

Plate CCLXXXIII.Male.

Bill yellowish-green, with the tips brownish-black; feet light greenish-grey, webs and claws yellowish flesh-colour; upper parts deep brown, the hind neck paler, and tinged with grey; primary quills and tail brownish-black; lower parts greyish-white, lower wing-coverts white, those next to the edge of the wing greyish-black towards the end, axillary feathers white, greyish-brown toward the end, lower tail-coverts similar.

Male, 20, 45.

Common off the shores, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to that of Mexico. Abundant off Nova Scotia. Ranges to a great distance at sea in autumn and winter.

Puffinus cinereus,Bonap.Syn. p. 370.Cinereous Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 334.Wandering Shearwater, Puffinus cinereus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 555.

Puffinus cinereus,Bonap.Syn. p. 370.

Cinereous Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 334.

Wandering Shearwater, Puffinus cinereus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 555.

465. 2. Puffinus Anglorum,Ray. Manks Shearwater.

Plate CCXCV.

Plate CCXCV.

Bill deep greenish-black; inner and middle of outer side of tibia dull orange, the rest greenish-black, as are the fourth toe and outer side of the third, the inner side of the latter and the whole of the second dull orange, webs pale yellow; upper parts brownish-black, lower white.

Adult, 15, 32.

Not uncommon off the coast of Maine during summer. Breeds on Sable Island, off Nova Scotia. Ranges, at times, to great distances seaward.

Puffinus anglorum,Bonap.Syn. p. 371.Shearwater Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 336.Manks Shearwater, Puffinus anglorum,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 604.

Puffinus anglorum,Bonap.Syn. p. 371.

Shearwater Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 336.

Manks Shearwater, Puffinus anglorum,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 604.

466. 3. Puffinus obscurus,Lath.Dusky Shearwater.

Plate CCXCIX.Male.

Plate CCXCIX.Male.

Bill light blue, the tips black; outside of tarsus and toes indigo-black, inside and webs pale yellowish flesh-colour; upper parts sooty-black, lower pure white.

Male, 11, 26.

Abundant during summer in the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coast eastward to Georgia. Some wander as far as Long Island.

Puffinus obscurus,Bonap.Syn. p. 371.Dusky Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 337.Dusky Petrel, Puffinus obscurus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 620.

Puffinus obscurus,Bonap.Syn. p. 371.

Dusky Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 337.

Dusky Petrel, Puffinus obscurus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 620.

GENUS V. THALASSIDROMA,Vigors. PETREL.

Bill shorter than the head, slender, as high as broad at the base, extremely compressed at the end; upper mandible with the nostrils dorsal forming a tube on its ridge at the base, on which the dorsal line is concave and ascending, then abrupt, afterwards, for a short space, straight, and lastly decurved, the sides separated by a groove, convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved, slender, acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, the sides erect, the edges sharp, the tip decurved, acute. Head of moderate size, rounded above; neck short; body rather slender. Feet rather long, slender; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus slender, reticulate; hind toe minute, with a conical deflected claw; anterior toes of moderate length, slender, scutellate, webbed, the third and fourth about equal. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage very soft and blended, the feathers distinct only on the wings, which are very long, with the primaries a little incurved toward the end, the second longest, the firstand fourth about equal; tail emarginate or even, of twelve feathers. Tongue much flattened, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus wide, within the thorax enormously distended, and with the proventriculus forming an ovate sac, which is recurved; stomach very small; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca small; cloaca globular.

467. 1. Thalassidroma Leachii,Temm.Leach's Petrel.—Fork-tailed Petrel.

Plate CCLX.Male and Female.

Plate CCLX.Male and Female.

Tail forked; bill and feet black; plumage dark greyish-brown; quills and tail brownish-black; smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries light greyish-brown; rump, sides of abdomen, and outer lower tail-coverts white; upper tail-coverts also white, but with a terminal black band.

Male, 8, 181/2.

Common on the Banks of Newfoundland, and at times off the coast of Massachusetts, Maine, and Nova Scotia. Breeds on the shores of Baffin's Bay.

Thalassidroma Leachii,Bonap.Syn. p. 367.Fork-tailed Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 326.Forked-tailed Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 434.

Thalassidroma Leachii,Bonap.Syn. p. 367.

Fork-tailed Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 326.

Forked-tailed Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 434.

468. 2. Thalassidroma Wilsonii,Bonap.Wilson's Petrel.—Mother Carey's Chicken.

Plate CCLXX.Male and Female.

Plate CCLXX.Male and Female.

Tail even; bill and feet black, but the webs yellow, unless at the margin; plumage dark greyish-brown; quills and tail brownish-black; outer secondary wing-coverts and some of the secondary quills light greyish-brown, and tipped with white; rump, sides of abdomen, and outer lower tail-coverts, white.

Male, 71/4, 153/4.

Wanders from the Gulf of Mexico, off the whole Atlantic coast to Baffin's Bay, and often almost across the ocean towards Europe. Breeds in vast numbers from Maine to Baffin's Bay.

Stormy Petrel, Procellaria pelagica,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 90.Thalassidroma Wilsonii,Bonap.Syn. p. 367.Wilson's Stormy Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 322.Wilson's Petrel, Thalassidroma Wilsonii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 486; v. v. p. 645.

Stormy Petrel, Procellaria pelagica,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 90.

Thalassidroma Wilsonii,Bonap.Syn. p. 367.

Wilson's Stormy Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 322.

Wilson's Petrel, Thalassidroma Wilsonii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 486; v. v. p. 645.

469. 3. Thalassidroma pelagica,Linn.Least Petrel.—Mother Carey's Chicken.

Plate CCXI.

Plate CCXI.

Tail slightly rounded; bill and feet black; general colour of the upper parts greyish-black, with a tinge of brown; lower parts sooty-brown; secondary coverts margined externally with dull greyish-white; feathers of rump and upper tail-coverts white, with the shafts black, the tail-coverts broadly tipped with black.

Male, 53/4, 131/2.

Not uncommon on the Banks of Newfoundland. Not observed to breed on the American coast.

Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 327.Least Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 310.

Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 327.

Least Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 310.

FAMILY XLIV. ALCINÆ. AUKS.

Bill not longer than the head, much compressed, generally very high, in the species approaching the next family rather slender. Nostrils small, linear, basal, and submarginal. Head large, broadly ovate, anteriorly narrowed; neck short and thick; body full, compact, ovate, or somewhat elongated. Feet short, rather stout, placed far behind; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes three, of moderate length, scutellate, webbed. Claws strong, arched, acute. Plumage dense, blended, soft. Wings small, narrow, pointed. Tail very short. Tongue slender, trigonal; œsophagus very wide, within the thorax extremely dilated; stomach rather large, muscular, with the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine long and wide; cœca of moderate size. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Egg generally single.

GENUS I. MORMON,Illiger. PUFFIN.

Bill about the length of the head, nearly as high as long, exceedingly compressed, at the base as high as the head, obliquely furrowed on the sides; upper mandible with a horny dotted rim along the basal margin; its dorsal line decurved from the base, the ridge narrow, at the base rounded, the sides rapidly sloped, with three or four curved oblique grooves, the edges sharp, their outline nearly straight, the tip deflected, very narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, and so placed, that the base of the bill is inflected beyond the perpendicular, the dorsal line a little convex at first, towards the end ascending, and nearly straight, the sides perpendicular, the edges sharp; the tip very narrow, obliquely truncate; gape-line extending downwards a little beyond the base of the bill, and furnished with a soft corrugated extensile membrane. Nostrils marginal, linear, direct, in the horny part of the bill. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short and thick; body full and rounded. Feet short, rather stout, placed far behind; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, little compressed, anteriorly with a series of small scutella; toes three, connected by entire webs, the outer and middle toes nearly equal. Claws strong, of moderate length, arched, acute, that of the inner toe much curved. Plumage close, blended, soft. Wings short, narrow, curved, acute; the first quill longest; secondaries short and rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of sixteen feathers.

470. 1. Mormon cirrhatus,Lath.Tufted Puffin.

Plate CCXLIX.Male.

Plate CCXLIX.Male.

Bill with four curved grooves on the upper mandible anterior to the nostrils, the lower smooth, a horny subcylindrical addition to the ridge at the base about an inch in length, the colour yellowish-red, the basal rim and ridge towards the end of the upper mandible bright red; feet bright red; two tufts of loose, acuminate, decurved featherson the sides of the head behind the eye; face white; upper parts brownish-black, glossed with blue, lower sooty-brown, tinged with grey on the abdomen; part of the sides and under wing-coverts greyish-brown.

Male, 15, 221/2.

Extremely rare and accidental on the coast of the United States in winter. Common in the Arctic Seas, and on the north-west coast of America.

Alca cirrhata,Lath.Ind. Orn. v. ii. p. 791.Mormon cirrhatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 429.Tufted Mormon or Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 539.Tufted Puffin, Mormon cirrhatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 364.

Alca cirrhata,Lath.Ind. Orn. v. ii. p. 791.

Mormon cirrhatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 429.

Tufted Mormon or Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 539.

Tufted Puffin, Mormon cirrhatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 364.

471. 2. Mormon glacialis,Leach.Large-billed Puffin.

Plate CCXCIII.Male.

Plate CCXCIII.Male.

Bill with three curved grooves on each of the mandibles toward the end, a compressed addition to the ridge about three-quarters of an inch long, its colour, and that of the feet, orange-yellow; on the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering, horny body, directed upwards and backwards, on the lower an adherent linear body of the same nature; sides of the head, and the lower parts, white; upper part of head light brownish-grey, tinged with lilac; a broad collar extending to the lower mandible; of a dark greyish-brown tint below, gradually passing into the colour of the upper parts, which is brownish-black, glossed with blue; primary quills and their coverts blackish-brown; part of the sides and under wing-coverts greyish-brown.

Male, 13, 241/2.

Very rare, and in winter only, off the Bay of Fundy.

Mormon glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 430.Large-billed Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 541.Large-billed Puffin, Mormon glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 599.

Mormon glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 430.

Large-billed Puffin,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 541.

Large-billed Puffin, Mormon glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 599.

472. 3. Mormon Arcticus,Linn.Common or Arctic Puffin.

Plate CCXIII.Male and Female.

Plate CCXIII.Male and Female.

Bill with three curved grooves on both mandibles toward the end, a very slight addition to the ridge at the base only a quarter of an inch long; the basal rim and first ridge of both mandibles dull yellow, the intervening space greyish-blue, the rest bright red; on the upper eyelid a flattened triangular nearly erect horny body, and along the lower an adherent elongated body of the same nature; feet vermilion; throat and sides of the head greyish-white; upper parts of the head greyish-black, tinged with blue; the middle of the neck all round, and all the upper parts deep black, glossed with blue, the quills tinged with brown; under parts white, except the upper part of the sides, which are dusky, and the lower wing-coverts, which are brownish-grey.

Male, 113/4, 23.

Ranges southward along the coast in winter, at times as far as Georgia. Less rare from Long Island eastward, and becomes plentiful in the Bay of Fundy. Breeds in vast numbers in burrows, on the islands off Labrador.

Mormon arcticus,Bonap.Syn. p. 430.Puffin or Coulterneb,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 542.Puffin, Mormon arcticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 105.

Mormon arcticus,Bonap.Syn. p. 430.

Puffin or Coulterneb,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 542.

Puffin, Mormon arcticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 105.

GENUS. II. ALCA,Linn.AUK.

Bill as long as the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond which it is very high, exceedingly compressed, and obliquely furrowed on the sides; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the ridge extremely narrow, the sides nearly flat, the nasal groove very large, and feathered, with its lower margin very narrow, and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved, very narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, and having a horny triangular appendage, the sides at first extremely narrow, towards the end erect and flat, the edges inflected, the dorsal outline concave, the tip decurved. Nostrils medial marginal, linear, short, concealed by the feathers. Head large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full, rather depressed. Feet placed far behind, short, stout; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate; hind toe wanting; anterior toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate, webbed, the outer slightly longer than the middle. Claws rather small, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage close, blended, very soft. Wings very short, narrow, acute, first quill longest. Tail short, tapering, of twelve or fourteen feathers.

473. 1. Alca impennis,Linn.Great Auk.

Plate CCCXLI.Adult.

Plate CCCXLI.Adult.

Bill rather longer than the head, its dorsal line convexo-declinate, upper mandible with a basal and eight terminal grooves, lower withten or twelve grooves; wings diminutive, much pointed, the primaries tapering to an acute point, the first longest, secondaries broad, scarcely longer than their coverts; tail short, of fourteen feathers; bill black, with the grooves white; feet black; head, neck, and upper parts black, the throat and sides of the neck tinged with chocolate-brown, the wings with greyish-brown, the head, hind neck, and back glossed with olive-green; fore part of neck below and all the lower parts white, as are a large oblong patch before each eye, and the tips of the secondary quills.

Adult, 29, 271/4.

Rare and accidental on the Banks of Newfoundland; said to breed on a rock near that island.

Great Auk, Alca impennis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 553.Great Auk, Alca impennis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 316.

Great Auk, Alca impennis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 553.

Great Auk, Alca impennis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 316.

474. 2. Alca Torda,Linn.Razor-billed Auk.

Plate CCXIV.Male and Female.

Plate CCXIV.Male and Female.

Bill rather shorter than the head, with its dorsal line very convex, upper mandible with five, lower with four grooves, black with a white band across each mandible; feet black; head, neck, and upper parts black, the head, hind neck, and back glossed with olive-green, the throat and sides of the neck tinged with chocolate, the wings with brown; lower part of neck below and all the lower parts white, as are a line from the eye to the bill on each side, and the tips of the secondaries. Female similar. Young, in the winter, with the colours similar, but the back duller, the wings more brown, the throat and sides of the head mottled with white, and the bill much smaller, without furrows or white line. Old birds, in winter, with the throat and sides of the neck mottled with white, but in other respects the colouring as in summer.

Male, 17, 291/2.

Rare on the eastern coast of the United States, and only during winter. Breeds in great numbers on the Gannet Rock in the Gulf of St Lawrence, on the shores of Newfoundland, and the western coast of Labrador, chiefly in the fissures of rocks.

Alca Torda,Bonap.Syn. p. 431.Razor-bill, Alca Torda,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 547.Razor-billed Auk, Alca Torda,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 112; v. v. p. 628.

Alca Torda,Bonap.Syn. p. 431.

Razor-bill, Alca Torda,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 547.

Razor-billed Auk, Alca Torda,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 112; v. v. p. 628.

GENUS III. PHALERIS,Temm.PHALERIS.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, broad at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with a prominent basal rim as in the puffin, its dorsal line convexand declinate, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, with a deep sinus close to the narrow, declinate, blunt tip; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and a little convex, the sides sloping outwards, the edges sharp, the tip ascending, obliquely truncate. Nostrils linear-oblong, direct, near the margin, in the horny part of the bill. Head rather large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full and compact. Feet short, placed far behind; tibia bare below; tarsus very short, much compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes three, connected by emarginate webs; middle and outer toes of the same length. Claws rather stout, moderately arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Plumage dense, blended, soft. Wings of moderate length, very narrow, pointed. Tail very short, rounded, of fourteen feathers.

475. 1. Phaleris cristatella,Gmel.Curled-crested Phaleris.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 4. Adult.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 4. Adult.

Bill scarlet, with the tips yellow. Upper mandible with a somewhat triangular horny plate at the base detached from the other parts, and a deep oblique groove anterior to the nostrils; lower mandible with a groove on each side; a tuft of about twenty linear recurved feathers from the anterior part of the forehead; general colour of upper parts brownish-black, of lower purplish-grey; a short line of elongated linear white feathers commencing under the eye, and proceeding along the side of the neck.

Adult, 10, wing, 63/4.

North-west coast of America.

Alca cristatella,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 552.Curled-crested Phaleris, Phaleris cristatella,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 102.

Alca cristatella,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 552.

Curled-crested Phaleris, Phaleris cristatella,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 102.

476. 2. Phaleris nodirostris,Bonap.Knobbed-billed Phaleris.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 3. Adult.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 3. Adult.

Bill deep red, much shorter than the head, stout, upper mandible with a roundish, compressed, decurvate, greyish-blue knob on its ridge, between the nostrils, which are covered by a projecting operculum; tail of fourteen feathers; feet dusky grey; general colour ofupper parts brownish-black; fore part and sides of head streaked with linear, acuminate, white feathers; tips of secondaries also white; cheeks and a small portion of the throat at the base of the bill dusky; lower parts white, mottled with dusky, the tips of the feathers being of that colour.

Adult, 6, wing, 4.

North-west coast of America.

Knobbed-billed Phaleris, Phaleris nodirostris, Bonap.Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 101.

Knobbed-billed Phaleris, Phaleris nodirostris, Bonap.Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 101.

GENUS IV. MERGULUS,Ray. SEA-DOVE.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, nearly straight, subpentagonal at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip rather obtuse; nasal depression short and broad; nostrils basal, oblong; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line ascending, straight, the sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges sharp and inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind. Head large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full and compact. Feet short, rather stout; tibia bare for a very short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with oblique scutella; hind toe wanting; anterior toes connected by entire webs, the third and fourth nearly equal. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage dense, glossy blended. Wings of moderate length, narrow, pointed; the first quill longest; secondaries rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers.

477. 1. Mergulus Alle,Linn.Common Sea-Dove.

Plate CCCXXXIX.Male and Female.

Plate CCCXXXIX.Male and Female.

Bill black, feet pale flesh-coloured, webs dusky, inside of mouth light yellow; head, upper part of neck, and all the upper surface glossy bluish-black; a small spot on the upper eyelid, another on the lower, several longitudinal streaks on the scapulars, and a bar alongthe tips of the secondary quills, together with the breast and abdomen, white; feathers on the sides under the wings with the inner webs dusky, lower wing-coverts blackish-grey. In winter, the throat, and lower parts of the cheeks white, sides and fore part of the neck white, the latter barred with blackish-grey; the other parts as in summer, but the black duller.

Male, 71/8, 141/4.

Rare and only during winter along the coast of the United States, from New York to Maine. More abundant along the coast of Nova Scotia, and far at sea. Breeds on the Arctic coasts.

Little Auk, Alca Alle,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 94.Uria Alle,Bonap.Syn. p. 425.Little Guillemot, Uria Alle,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 479.Little Auk or Sea Dove,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 531.Little Guillemot, Uria Alle,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 304.

Little Auk, Alca Alle,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 94.

Uria Alle,Bonap.Syn. p. 425.

Little Guillemot, Uria Alle,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 479.

Little Auk or Sea Dove,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 531.

Little Guillemot, Uria Alle,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 304.

GENUS V. URIA,Lath.GUILLEMOT.

Bill generally shorter than the head, stout, compressed, tapering, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched; the ridge narrow, broader at the base, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip a little decurved, with a slight notch; nasal groove broad, feathered; nostrils at its lower edge, subbasal, lateral, longitudinal, linear; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the back very narrow, the sides nearly flat, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip acute. Head large, oblong; neck short and thick; body stout, elongated, rather depressed. Feet short, placed far behind; the greater part of the tibia concealed, its lower part bare; tarsus short, stout, compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes three, of moderate length, middle toe longest, outer little shorter, scutellate, connected by entire webs. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage dense, very soft, blended. Wings rather short, narrow, acute; primary quills curved, tapering, the first and second longest; secondaries short, rounded. Tail very short, rounded, of twelve or more feathers.

478. 1. Uria antiqua,Gmel.Black-throated Guillemot.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 1. Adult. Fig. 2. Young.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 1. Adult. Fig. 2. Young.

Bill yellow, shorter than the head, rather stout, compressed toward the end, the upper outline arched; feet yellow; head and upper part of neck black, excepting a band of elongated linear feathers beginning over the eye and extending down the hind part of the neck, and a broad band of white commencing behind the ear and curving forwards, to join the white, which is the general colour of the lower parts, with the exception of the flanks, which are black; back, wings, and tail greyish-black. Young, when fledged, with the bill black, the feet dusky; the upper parts blackish-grey, each feather black in the centre, the lower parts greyish-yellow, transversely barred with dusky; the tail broadly tipped with white.

Adult, 101/2, wings, 59/12.

North-west coast of America. Abundant.

Alca antiqua,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 551.Black-throated Guillemot, Uria antiqua,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 100.

Alca antiqua,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 551.

Black-throated Guillemot, Uria antiqua,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 100.

479. 2. Uria occidentalis,Bonap.Horned-billed Guillemot.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 5. Adult.

Plate CCCCII.Fig. 5. Adult.

Bill orange-yellow, shorter than the head, stout, straight, with the dorsal line arched, and an oblong compressed knob on the ridge between the nostrils, which are linear, and placed in the bare skin; feet greyish-yellow; upper parts black, as are the cheeks, the upper part and sides of the fore neck; the lower parts white; two decurved bands of white slender feathers on each side of the head, one commencing over the eye, the other at the angle of the mouth; tail very short, even, of sixteen feathers.

Adult, 151/2, wing, 610/12.

North-west coast of America.

Cerorhyncha occidentalis,Bonap.Syn. p. 428.Western cerorhyncha,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 538.Horned-billed Guillemot, Ceratorhyncha occidentalis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 104.

Cerorhyncha occidentalis,Bonap.Syn. p. 428.

Western cerorhyncha,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 538.

Horned-billed Guillemot, Ceratorhyncha occidentalis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 104.

480. 3. Uria Brunnichii,Sabine. Large-billed Guillemot.

Plate CCCXLV.Male.

Plate CCCXLV.Male.

Bill stout, black; feet dusky, tinged with red; general colour of plumage greyish-black on the upper parts; sides of the head and throat tinged with brown; lower fore part of neck, the breast, abdomen, edges of wings and tips of secondaries white; sides streaked with greyish-black. In winter the sides of the head and neck, the fore part of the latter, with the rest of the lower parts white, the sides streaked with greyish-black, and a line of the same behind the eye.

Male, 181/2, 30.

Occasionally procured in Maine. Not very rare off the coast of Nova Scotia. Breeds from Hudson's Bay to the Arctic Seas.

Uria Brunnichii,Bonap.Syn. p. 424.Uria Brunnichii, Brunnich's Guillemot,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 477.Large-billed Guillemot,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 529.Large-billed Guillemot, Uria Brunnichii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 336.

Uria Brunnichii,Bonap.Syn. p. 424.

Uria Brunnichii, Brunnich's Guillemot,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 477.

Large-billed Guillemot,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 529.

Large-billed Guillemot, Uria Brunnichii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 336.

481. 4. Uria Troile,Linn.Foolish Guillemot. Murre.

Plate CCXVIII.Male and Female.

Plate CCXVIII.Male and Female.

Bill rather stout, black; feet black; general colour of upper parts greyish-black, sides of the head and throat tinged with brown; lower fore neck, breast, abdomen, edges of wings, and tips of secondaries white; sides streaked with greyish-black; a line of white encircling the eye, and extending upwards of an inch behind it, but in some individuals wanting. In winter, the sides of the head and neck, the fore part of the latter, with the lower parts, white.

Male, 171/2, 30.

More or less abundant during winter on the coast of Massachusetts and Maine, rarely as far south as New York. Breeds in vast multitudes on the Rocky Islands of the Gulf of St Lawrence, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Occasionally found in Hudson's Bay.

Uria Troile,Bonap.Syn. p. 424.Uria Troile, Foolish Guillemot,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 477.Foolish Guillemot or Murre,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 526.Foolish Guillemot, Uria Troile,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 142.

Uria Troile,Bonap.Syn. p. 424.

Uria Troile, Foolish Guillemot,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 477.

Foolish Guillemot or Murre,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 526.

Foolish Guillemot, Uria Troile,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 142.

482. 5. Uria Grylle,Linn.Black Guillemot.

Plate CCXIX.Adult in summer and winter, and Young.

Plate CCXIX.Adult in summer and winter, and Young.

Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, black; feet vermilion, tinged with carmine; general colour of plumage deep black, on the upper parts tinged with green, on the lower with brown; a patch on each wing, including the secondary coverts and some of the small feathers white, of which colour also are the axillars and lower wing-coverts. In winter the general colour of the plumage white; the sides of the head, the neck all round, the lower parts, and the rump being of that colour, more or less shaded with grey; upper part of head obscurely mottled with greyish-black; back and scapulars black, each feather tipped with greyish-white, those of the latter more broadly; wings and tails brownish-black, the former with a conspicuous white patch as in summer. Young at first covered with soft, thick, brownish-black down.

Adult, 137/8, 211/2.

Accidental as far south, on the eastern coast, as New York; not rare from thence eastward, during winter. Breeds from the Bay ofFundy along all the rocky shores, to Labrador, and the highest latitudes, where considerable numbers even spend the winter.

Uria Grylle,Bonap.Syn. p. 423.Uria Grylle, Black Guillemot,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 523.Black Guillemot, Uria Grylle,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 148; v. v. p. 627.

Uria Grylle,Bonap.Syn. p. 423.

Uria Grylle, Black Guillemot,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 523.

Black Guillemot, Uria Grylle,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 148; v. v. p. 627.

483. 4. Uria Townsendii,Aud.Slender-billed Guillemot.

Plate CCCCXXX.Male and Female.

Plate CCCCXXX.Male and Female.

Bill shorter than the head, straight, slender, much compressed, acute, black; feet yellow, claws black; plumage very soft, close, blended, as in the other species; wings small, very narrow, convex, falcate; first quill longest; secondaries incurved, obliquely rounded; tail extremely short, narrow, rounded, of twelve weak, rounded feathers. Upper parts brownish-black, the feathers of the back terminally margined with light grey; lower parts, cheeks, a transverse band on the nape, both eyelids, and a longitudinal band on each side, formed by some of the scapulars, white, some dusky streaks on the hind part of the sides, and the lower wing-coverts greyish-brown, some of them whitish. Young in autumn with the upper parts brownish-black, the feathers terminally margined with brown; the occipital band merely indicated by some lighter feathers, and the scapular band brownish or chestnut-red; lower parts of a curious mottled appearance, the feathers being brownish-grey at the end, but in the rest of their extent white, that colour appearing more or less on all the parts, and shewing a patch on the hind part of the sides.

Adult, 10; wing 52/12.Young, in autumn, 93/4; wing 51/12.

Abundant on the north-west coast of America, not far from the Columbia River.

Slender-billed Guillemot, Uria Townsendii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 251.

Slender-billed Guillemot, Uria Townsendii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 251.

FAMILY XLV. COLYMBINÆ. DIVERS AND GREBES.

Bill of the length of the head, straight, rather stout, much compressed, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate, almost straight, or towards the end convex; nasal groove rather long, feathered at the base. Nostrils basal, linear, direct, pervious. Feet stout, short, placed extremely far behind; tarsus extremely compressed; toes four, the first very small, and lobed; the anterior united bywebs, which in some are lobed. Plumage dense, short, glossy, generally silky beneath. Wings small, very narrow, acute. Tail very short, sometimes extremely small, and forming a slight tuft. Tongue slender, trigonal, tapering; œsophagus very wide in its whole length, or narrowed in the anterior part with the proventriculus wide; stomach generally large, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine rather long and wide; as are the cœca; cloaca globular.

GENUS I. COLYMBUS,Linn.DIVER.

Bill as long as the head, straight, rather stout, much compressed, tapering, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line descending, and slightly convex towards the end, the ridge convex, narrowed towards the point, the sides nearly erect, convex, the edges sharp and considerably inflected; the tip narrow; nasal groove rather long, feathered at the base. Nostrils basal, linear, direct, pervious; lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow and extending beyond the middle, the dorsal line straight and sloping towards the point, the ridge convex and narrow, the edges sharp and involute, the tip attenuated. Head of moderate size or rather large, oblong, narrowed before; neck rather long and thick; body elongated, much depressed. Feet short, rather large, placed very far back; tibia almost entirely concealed; tarsus short, exceedingly compressed, sharp-edged before and behind, covered all over with reticulated scales; toes four, hind toe extremely small, connected with the second by a very small membrane; anterior toes united by entire membranes, the outer longest, the third a little shorter, all scutellate. Claws very small, depressed, blunt. Plumage short and dense, the feathers in general oblong. Wings very small and narrow, curved, first quill longest, secondaries broad and rounded. Tail extremely short,rounded of more than twelve feathers. Tongue long, trigonal, tapering; œsophagus very wide; proventriculus extremely dilated; stomach rather large, roundish, a little compressed, moderately muscular, with a rather thick, dense, longitudinally rugous epithelium; intestine rather long and wide; cœca rather long and wide; cloaca globular.

484. 1. Colymbus glacialis,Linn.Great Northern Diver.—Loon.

Plate CCCVI.Male, and Young in winter.

Plate CCCVI.Male, and Young in winter.

Adult in summer with the bill black, the feet livid greyish-blue, their inner sides tinged with flesh-colour; head and neck dark greenish-blue with purple gloss; on the throat a small transverse patch of white longitudinally streaked with dusky; above the middle of the neck two large patches of white similarly streaked, separated in front to the distance of an inch, but almost continuous behind; lower parts glossy white, excepting the feathers on the sides under the wings, which are black, each with two, three, or four elliptical white spots, a faint dusky band across the vent, the lower tail-coverts, which are brownish-black tipped with white, and the axillar-feathers and large wing-coverts, which have a dusky streak along the middle; sides of the neck at its lower part longitudinally streaked with black and white; upper parts glossy black, variegated with spots of white in regular transverse slightly curved lines, having the convexity backwards, the spots small and roundish towards the neck and sides, larger and somewhat four-sided along the middle of the back, largest and rectangular on the scapulars, very small and roundish on the hind part of the back and tail-coverts; upper part of wing similar, with smallish spots; alula and quills brownish-black, a few of the inner secondaries only having two white spots at the end of the tail brownish-black, of twenty feathers. Young in winter with the bill pale yellowish-green, the ridge and tip of the upper mandible dusky; upper parts dark greyish-brown, each feather margined with lighter, lower parts white, sides of the neck below streaked with dusky, sides of body dusky, without spots.

Adult, 327/8, 571/2.Young Male, in winter, 311/4, 541/2.

During winter dispersed over the United States, in Texas, as well as along the coasts of the Atlantic, and the north-west. Breeds from Massachusetts northward to very high latitudes. Common.

Great Northern Diver or Loon,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix.Colymbus glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 420.Colymbus glacialis, Great Northern Diver,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 474.Loon or Great Northern Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 513.Great Northern Diver or Loon, Colymbus glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 43.

Great Northern Diver or Loon,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix.

Colymbus glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 420.

Colymbus glacialis, Great Northern Diver,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 474.

Loon or Great Northern Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 513.

Great Northern Diver or Loon, Colymbus glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 43.

485. 2. Colymbus arcticus,Linn.Black-throated Diver.

Plate CCII.Male, Female, and Young in winter.

Plate CCII.Male, Female, and Young in winter.

Adult in summer with the bill black, the feet greyish-blue, the anterior edge of the tarsus, upper surface of toes, and part of the webs, pale livid flesh-colour; fore part and sides of head, throat, and sides of neck light bluish-grey, fore part and sides of head darker; upper parts glossy bluish-black, tinged with green anteriorly, and shaded with brown posteriorly; on the fore part of the back two longitudinal bands of transverse white bars, the feathers being tipped with that colour; the scapulars, excepting the outer, marked in the same manner with transverse rows of rather large square spots; most of the wing-coverts with two roundish spots of white near the end; quills blackish-brown, tinged with grey externally, paler on the inner webs; tail blackish-brown, of eighteen feathers; fore neck to the length of six and a half inches purplish-black, ending angularly below, and with a transverse interrupted band of linear-white spots near the upper part, beyond which the sides of the neck blackish-brown, with several longitudinal white streaks, formed by the edges of the feather; on the lower part of the neck a broad space occupied by their longitudinal dusky and white streaks; lower parts pure white, except a dusky longitudinal band on the sides under the wing. Young in winter with the bill bluish-grey, on the ridge dusky; upper part of head and hind neck dark greyish-brown, sides of head greyish-white, minutely streaked with brown, sides of neck also streaked, its fore part faintly mottled; lower parts white, the sides and lower tail-coverts greyish-brown; upper parts blackish-brown, the feathers broadly edged with pale grey, quills and tail brownish-black.

Male, 29, 391/2.

The young range throughout the interior and along the coast as far as Texas, in autumn and winter. Adult in full plumage very rare. Breeds in high latitudes. Columbia River.

Colymbus arcticus,Bonap.Syn. p. 420.Colymbus arcticus, Black-throated Diver,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 475.Black-throated Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 517.Black-throated Diver, Colymbus arcticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 345.

Colymbus arcticus,Bonap.Syn. p. 420.

Colymbus arcticus, Black-throated Diver,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 475.

Black-throated Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 517.

Black-throated Diver, Colymbus arcticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 345.

486. 3. Colymbus septentrionalis,Linn.Red-throated Diver.

Plate CCII.Male in summer, Male in winter, Female, and Young.

Plate CCII.Male in summer, Male in winter, Female, and Young.

Adult, in summer, with the bill bluish-black, the feet brownish-black, anterior part of tarsus, upper surface of toes, and part of webs, livid flesh-colour; fore part and sides of head, throat, and sides of neck, bluish-grey; fore part of neck rich brownish-red; hind part ofhead and hind neck longitudinally streaked with greenish-black and pure white, each feather black in the middle, with the sides white, the colours disposed in lines; upper parts in general brownish-black, tinged with green, more or less mottled with white, according to age, excepting the primary quills and the tail-feathers, of which there are twenty; lower parts pure white, excepting the feathers on the sides under the wings, some of those about the vent, and the lower tail-coverts, which are greyish-brown, with white margins and tips. Young, in winter, with the fore part of the neck white, or slightly mottled with red; all the feathers of the upper parts with two white spots near the end; tail-feathers edged and tipped with white. Young at first covered with dense elastic down, of a greyish-black colour, tinged with Brown.

Male, 19, 25.Female, 18, 24.

Not uncommon during winter, autumn, and early spring, from Maryland eastward. Breeds in Newfoundland, Labrador, and as far north as the Arctic Seas.

Colymbus septentrionalis,Bonap.Syn. p. 421.Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 476.Red-throated Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 519.Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 20; v. v. p. 625.

Colymbus septentrionalis,Bonap.Syn. p. 421.

Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 476.

Red-throated Diver,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 519.

Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 20; v. v. p. 625.

GENUS II. PODICEPS,Lath.GREBE.

Bill about the length of the head, or shorter, straight, rather stout, much compressed, tapering, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and more or less convex toward the end, the ridge convex, the sides erect and somewhat convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip narrow; nasal groove rather long, extending to nearly half the length of the mandible, feathered at the base; nostrils linear-elliptical, basal, rather small, pervious; lower mandible with the angle long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the sides erect and slightly convex, the edges sharp and involute, the tip acute. Head of moderate size, oblong, narrowed before; neck rather long and slender; body long, depressed. Feet short, large, placed close to the extremity of the body; tibia feathered to the joint; tarsus extremely compressed, its anterior edge with a row of small scutella, the sides broadly scutellate, the posterior ridgewith a double row of small prominent scales; toes four, first very small, with a posterior membrane, fourth longest, all scutellate, the anterior connected at the base by membranes, and having on both sides an expanded web-like margin, marked with oblique lines. Claws flat, that of the third toe broadest. Plumage very soft and blended, on the lower parts dusky. Wings small acute, curved, the second primary longest, the first little shorter; secondaries short and rounded. Tail a slight tuft of loose feathers, fourteen in number. Tongue slender, trigonal, pointed; œsophagus of moderate width; proventriculus very large, ovate; stomach extremely large, roundish, its muscular coat thin; the epithelium thick, soft, rugous; a small pyloric sac; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca rather long, slender; cloaca very large, globular. Bronchi with the rings entire and ossified.

487. 1. Podiceps cristatus,Lath.Crested Grebe.

Plate CCXCII.Male and Female.

Plate CCXCII.Male and Female.

Male with the bill about the length of the head, rather slender, blackish-brown, tinged with carmine; feet greenish-black, tinged with greyish-blue; tail of fourteen feathers; two tufts of elongated feathers on the occiput, and a large frill on the sides and anterior part of the neck; upper part of head and tufts greyish-black, tinged with green, as is the hind part of the ruff, its anterior part being brownish-red; sides of the head and throat white; fore neck white, tinged with brown; breast silvery-white, sides reddish-brown, with dusky streaks; upper parts brownish-black, the feathers edged with lighter, the sides of the neck tinged with reddish, as is the rump; wing-coverts greyish-brown; primary quills brownish-black, middle secondaries, inner webs of their coverts, and outer webs of outer scapulars, white. Female with the occipital feathers a little elongated, but without the ruff; bill dusky green, upper part of head and hind neck blackish-grey; back and wings as in the male, but more tinged with grey; lower parts silvery-white, the sides dusky.

Male, 24, 33.

Not uncommon during autumn and early spring on all the larger streams of the Western Country, as well as on the coast of the Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Texas. Breeds in the mountainous parts of the Fur Countries, Rocky Mountains, and high latitudes. Migratory.

Podiceps cristatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.Podiceps cristatus, Crested Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 410.Crested Grebe or Gannet,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 250.Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 598.

Podiceps cristatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.

Podiceps cristatus, Crested Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 410.

Crested Grebe or Gannet,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 250.

Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 598.

488. 2. Podiceps rubricollis,Lath.Red-necked Grebe.

Plate CCXCVIII.Adult Male, and Young in winter.

Plate CCXCVIII.Adult Male, and Young in winter.

Male with the bill about the length of the head, rather slender, brownish-black, yellow at the base; tarsi and toes greenish-black externally, yellow on the inner side; two tufts of elongated feathers behind the eye; feathers on the hind part of the cheeks also elongated; upper part of head greyish-black, lower part ash-grey, with a white line from the base of the lower mandible to beyond the eye; hind part of neck, and upper parts generally, greyish-black, the feathers edged with paler; edges of wings and outer secondaries white; fore part and sides of neck rich brownish-red; breast and sides silvery-white, faintly marked with grey. Young, in winter, with the bill bright yellow, its ridge dusky; feet as in the adult; upper part of head blackish-grey; hind neck and upper parts of the same colour, darker towards the end; edge of wing and outer secondaries greyish-white, the latter grey towards the end; lower parts greyish-white.

Male, 183/4, 32.

During winter, not uncommon from New York to Maine. Breeds in the Fur Countries. Accidental in the interior.

Podiceps rubricollis,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.Podiceps rubricollis, Red-necked Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 411.Red-necked Grebe,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 253.Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps rubricollis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 617; v. v. p. 620.

Podiceps rubricollis,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.

Podiceps rubricollis, Red-necked Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 411.

Red-necked Grebe,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 253.

Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps rubricollis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 617; v. v. p. 620.

489. 3. Podiceps cornutus,Linn.Horned Grebe.

Plate CCLIX.Male and Female.

Plate CCLIX.Male and Female.

Male with the bill shorter than the head, rather slender, bluish-black, its tip yellow; feet dusky externally, dull yellow internally; a tuft of feathers on each side behind the eyes, a larger tuft on each side of the upper part of the neck; forehead greyish-brown; upper part of head bluish-black, as are the sides, fore neck anteriorly, and the ruff-feathers; a broad band over the eyes, and the elongated tufts behind them yellowish-brown; fore neck brownish-red; lower parts white, the sides reddish-brown, abdomen dull grey; upper parts brownish-black, the feathers edged with greyish, the middle secondary quills white. Young, in winter, with the feathers of the hind head a little elongated, but no tufts or ruff; bill bluish-grey, as are the feet; upper part of head and hind neck greyish-black, as are the upper parts in general, the feathers of the back edged with light grey; throat, sides of head, a broad patch on each side of the neck, nearly meeting behind,the fore neck and lower parts, white; sides and downy feathers of the abdomen brownish-grey; some of the secondaries white, as in the adult.

Male, 143/4, 251/2.

Very common during autumn on the Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, and all their tributaries, as well as in all the Atlantic Districts, to Texas. Breeds from the Great Lakes to the Fur Countries. Migratory.

Podiceps cornutus,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.Podiceps cornutus, Horned Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 411.Horned Grebe or Dobchick,Nutt.Man. v. ii. 254.Horned Grebe, Podiceps cornutus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 429; v. v. p. 423.

Podiceps cornutus,Bonap.Syn. p. 417.

Podiceps cornutus, Horned Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 411.

Horned Grebe or Dobchick,Nutt.Man. v. ii. 254.

Horned Grebe, Podiceps cornutus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 429; v. v. p. 423.

490. 4. Podiceps auritus,Lath.Eared Grebe.

Plate CCCCIV.Adult and Young.

Plate CCCCIV.Adult and Young.

Male with the bill considerably shorter than the head, rather stout, bluish-black; feet dusky grey externally, greenish-grey on the inner side; a tuft of very long loose feathers on each side of the head, behind the eye and covering the ears, orange; head and neck all round deep black; upper parts brownish-black, the wings greyish-brown, with a broad patch of white, the secondary quills being of that colour; lower parts silvery-white, except the sides of the body and rump, which are light red. Young, in autumn, with the tufts not developed; the upper part brownish-black, the neck tinged with grey behind, the secondary quills white; throat, and a broad band curving behind the ear so as almost to meet the other on the nape, greyish-white; neck light brownish-grey in front; lower parts of the body and rump dusky grey.

Adult13, wing 58/12.

Very rare, and not found by me in America.

Eared Dobchick or Grebe, Podiceps auritus,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 256.Eared Grebe, Podiceps auritus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 108.

Eared Dobchick or Grebe, Podiceps auritus,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 256.

Eared Grebe, Podiceps auritus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 108.

491. 5. Podiceps Carolinensis,Lath.Pied-billed Dobchick.

Plate CCXLVIII.Male and Female.

Plate CCXLVIII.Male and Female.

Male with the bill shorter than the head, stout, deep, compressed, pale blue, the upper mandible dusky along the ridge, the lower with a black band beyond the middle; feet greyish-black; feathers on the forehead with stiff enlarged shafts, as in the Rails; upper part of the head and the throat black; neck and sides of the head light greyish-brown; stiff edges of the feathers on the lower parts of the neck greyish-yellow; back brownish-black, as are the inner secondaries; outer secondaries light brown, with a reddish-white spot on the end of the inner web; primaries light brown, dusky at the end; breast silvery-white,abdomen brownish-grey, the sides mottled with greyish-brown. Female without the black band on the bill, or the black patch on the throat, but otherwise nearly similar. Young of both sexes like the female.

Male, 14, 23.

Extremely common in autumn on all our Western streams, as well as those of the Atlantic Districts. In winter in the Southern States, as far as Texas. Breeds on the Wabash, and other streams of the interior, to Maine. Migratory.

Podiceps carolinensis,Bonap.Syn. p. 418.Podiceps carolinensis, Pied-bill Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 412.Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 259.Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 359; v. v. p. 624.

Podiceps carolinensis,Bonap.Syn. p. 418.

Podiceps carolinensis, Pied-bill Grebe,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 412.

Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 259.

Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 359; v. v. p. 624.

PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., OLD FISHMARKET, EDINBURGH.


Back to IndexNext