Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 45
With regard to the genus name Colymbus, I have followed American
custom in applying it to a group of grebes, though there is uncer-
tainty as to whether it belongs to that family or to the loons. Dr.
Witmer Stone in the Auk, 1923 (pp. 147-148), has reviewed the case
briefly and is inclined to consider that Colyvibus should go to the
loons. His argument on the matter is readily accessible and need
not be quoted here. It may be noted, however, that though Gray in
1840 and 1841 cites G. glacialis Linnaeus as type of Colymhus with-
out comment, in an appendix issued in 1842 containing revisions to
his second edition he remarks (p. 15),
'•'' Colyvibus^ after L. add
(1735)," thus indicating that here, as in 1855, he had the edition of
Linnaeus for 1735 in mind. The earliest definite fixation of type for
Colyinbus Linnaeus 1758 is apparently that of Baird, Brewer, and
Ridgway, Water Birds (vol. 2, 1884, p. 425), where it is cited as
Colymhus cHstatus Linnaeus. For much of the matter given above
I am indebted to Dr. C. W. Eichmond.
COLYMBUS CHILENSIS (Lesson)
Podiceps chUeiisis " Garnot " Lesson, Man. d'Orn., vol. 2, June, 182S, p.
358. (Concepcion Bay, Chile.)
This species was first described by Lesson in his Manuel d'Orni-
thologie under the names of Podiceps chilensis and P. americanus, of
which P. chilensis has anteriority, as P. myiencanus is given lower
down on the same page. The species has been commonly accepted
under the name aniericanus, dating from Podiceps mnericanus Les-
son and Garnot,^^ which, however, is preoccupied by the name used
above. The designation Podiceps chiliens-is occurs in the work last
cited, but on page 601.
On November 2, 1920, at the Estancia Los Yngleses, near Lavalle,
Province of Buenos Aires, I secured an adult male of this species in
full plumage. While watching a small pool surrounded by rushes, I
had a glimpse of the neck of one of these birds projecting above the
surface of the water, but it disappeared at once. I remained hidden
for several minutes, making a variety of cooing and grunting calls,
until suddenly, without a ripple on the water or a sound, the bird
appeared in the center of the pool directly in front of me, where by a
quick shot, it was secured. The bill of this individual was black;
iris slightly lighter than carmine ; tarsus and toes dark neutral gray,
blotched with deep to light olive gray, with the under surface of the
webs blachish slate.
At General Roca, Rio Negro, on December 3. these small
grebes were common along quiet channels bordered with rushes and
* Voyage Autour du Monde, Coquille, Zoologie, vol. 1, November, 1820, p. 599.