FAMILY PODICIPID^E. GLEBES. 



133 



The Horned Grebe is sometimes confounded with the Pied-billed Grebe 

 in winter dress, but the former species has a more pointed and slightly longer 

 bill and tarsus. Both this and the next species are known to gunners by 

 various names, among the most common being, Water Witch, Hell Diver, and 

 Die Dipper. 



No. 3. The American Eared Grebe, C. niyricollis californicus, lias been taken in Illinois. 



{Ridgway.) 



GENUS PODILYMBUS LESSON. 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (LINN.). 



Pied=billed Grebe. Hell Diver. 



Sp. char. Adult in summer : Above, glossy 

 dark brown or brownish black ; throat, black, 

 and a black baud on the bill; front of neck 

 and sides of neck and body, tinged with 

 pale brown ; belly, silvery white. 



Adult in winter : Similar, but lacking the 

 black throat and without the black band on 

 the bill ; lower belly, tinged with gray. 



Length: 13.50; wing, 5; tarsus, 1.45; 

 bill, .90. 



Distribution: British Provinces, south- 

 ward to Brazil. Argentine Republic, and Chili, 

 including West Indies and Bermuda, breeding 

 nearly thi-oughout its range (A. 0. U.}, win- 

 ters from New Jersey southward. 



Nest and eggs : The nest is composed of a 

 mass of floating vegetation or a mat of grass 

 on slightly submerged marshes. The eggs 

 are yellowish white or dirty white, usually 

 from three to eight, and measure about 1.70 

 xl.20. 



FAMILY GAVIID^. LOONS. 



Restricted to five known species. The toes are four, full webbed in front; the hind toe, 

 separate, with small flap or lobe; the tarsus is flattened. The legs are set far back, rendering 

 walking difficult. Thoir food consists principally of fish, which they catch with great dex- 

 terity, being expert swimmers and divers. 



