GREBES 5 



ORDER PYGOPODES: DIVING BIRDS. 

 (FAMILIES PODICIPID.E, GAVIID^E, ALCIIXE.) 



FAMILY PODICIFIDJE. GREBES. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Bill long- and slender, tip not decurved. 



2. Bill five or more times as long- as depth at base. 



JEchmophorus, p. 5. 

 2'. Bill less than four times as long 1 as depth at base. 



Colymbus. p. 6. 

 V. Bill short and stout, tip of upper mandible decurved. 



Fodilymbus, p. 8. 



GENUS ^ECHMOPHORUS. 



1. JEchmophorus OCCidentalis (Lawr.). WESTERN GREBE. 



Head without side rS!5$ 

 crests ; bill slender; 

 neck nearly as long- 

 as body. Adults : 

 top of head and line 

 down back of neck 

 blackish ; back 

 slaty gray ; throat 

 and under parts sil- 

 very -white. Male : 

 length 24-29, wing- 

 7.45-8.50. bill 2.00- 

 3.05. Female: 

 smaller, bill 2.10- 

 2.48. 



Distribution. From the Pacific to Manitoba, and from central Mexico 

 to British Columbia and Alberta. 



Nest. Floating- on the water, a raft of tule stems, grass, and water 

 plants, with a slig-ht depression in the centre. Eyys : 4 to 5, -white. 



To find the western grebe at home go to the tule-bordered lakes 

 of eastern Oregon. Creep through the tall grass and part the tules 

 on the edge of a clear pond, and right before you on the water is the 

 grebe, with its silvery throat, graceful form, and fiery eye. A sud- 

 den motion of your hand, and the needle-like bill pierces the water 

 and the bird disappears like a flash of light, to reappear a full 

 minute later well beyond shot-gun range from shore. If you make 

 yourself known less suddenly the grebe instead of diving sinks 

 slowly and without a ripple, never to reappear except far away or 

 in some hidden part of the tules. 



As you watch the birds out in the lake, popping up and remain- 

 ing long enough for a good breath, then going below to stay a much 



