File:The genera of birds (18707535163).jpg

Order VIII. ANSERES.
Family II. Colymbidje.
The third Subfamily,
HELIORNINiE, or Sun Grebes,
have the Bill long, straight, and compressed, with the tip slightly curved and emarginated ; the gonys
of the lower mandible short and advancing upwards ; the Wings moderate and rounded ; the Tail long
and much rounded ; the Tarsi short ; and the Toes margined with a membrane, which is more or less
united to the middle one.
Heliornis Bonn.*
Bill longer than the head, straight, sides compressed, with the culmen rather elevated, and gradually
curved to the tip, which is acute and emarginated ; the gonys of the lower mandible short, and advancing
upwards ; the nostrils placed in a broad groove, with the opening large, longitudinal, and near the
middle. Wings moderate, with the second and third quills the longest. Tail long, broad, and much
rounded, with each feather broad and rounded at its end. Tarsi much shorter than the middle toe,
robust, and scutellated in front. Toes long, the outer nearly as long as the middle one, with a broad
web on the inner margin of all, which is united to the first joint of the inner toe, and to the second joint
of the outer ; the inner toe margined interiorly, and united to the lobe of the hind toe.
It is chiefly seen on the sides of rivers and ci'eeks ; in such places it searches for small fish and insects, more especially
flies, in catching which it shows great dexterity. It is very active, with the head and body continually in motion, and
frequently expanding the tail and wings at the same time.
H. Fuliea (BocUl.) PI. enl. — Plotus surinamensis Gmel. ; Heliornis fulicarius Bonn.
Podica Less.\
Bill like that of the last genus ; but the Wings moderate, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills the
longest. Tail lengthened, rounded, and composed of long narrow feathers, with the shaft of each strong
at the base. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and scutellated in front. Toes long, and margined with
a broad lobed membrane ; the lateral ones unequal ; the hind toe long, and margined with a broad lobe ;
the claws short and curved.
The typical species is peculiar to Western Africa ; its habits and manners are unknown.
P. senegalensis (Vieill.) Less. Gal. des Ois. t. 280.

• Established by Bonnaterre (Encycl. Method, p. 64.) in 1790 ; and, in 181 1, Illiger altered it to Podoa.
  

t Established by M. Lesson in 1831 (TV. d'Orn. p. 596.) ; and Rliiyelura of Wagler (1832) is coequal.