Chapter XLV: Colymbinæ. Divers and Grebes, 351 (15)

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 5-2/12. _Young_, in autumn, 9-3/4; wing 5-1/12.

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.

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 by webs, 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.

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_, 32-7/8, 57-1/2. _Young Male_, in winter, 31-1/4, 54-1/2.

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.

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

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, 39-1/2.

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.

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

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 of head 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.

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 ridge with 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.

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.

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

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_, 18-3/4, 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.

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

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_, 14-3/4, 25-1/2.

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.

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

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.

_Adult_ 13, wing 5-8/12.

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.

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

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.

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

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Transcriber's note:

Although most taxonomic terms were accepted as printed, a number of species names were changed where two spellings were presented and one was not found through an internet search (e.g., p. 29: Virginana and Virginiana [not found]).

Page Change Made ==== ========================= xii "XLV. COLUMBINÆ. DIVERS..." => "XLV. COLYMBINÆ. DIVERS..." 48 "71. 1. mitratus, Lath..." => "71. 1. Myiodioctes mitratus, Lath..." 163 "244. Icteria viridis, Gmel." => "244. 1. Icteria viridis, Gmel." 214 "310. Ortygometra Jamaicensis" => "310. 3. Ortygometra Jamaicensis" 220 "tip narrowed, broader than..." => "...tip narrowed, (broader than..." 264 "_Female_, 12, wing 4-3/4." => "_Female_, 12, wing 14-3/4."