HOKNED GREBE 



337 



this grebe in autumn from the following species, which has 

 pure white under parts. In spring and summer, adults have 

 a small black patch in the middle of the throat j the black 

 band across the middle of the whitish bill shows only at 

 close range. 



Horned Grebe. Colymbus auritus 

 13.50 



Ad. in late spring. — Top of head and hind neck black ; two 

 patches of light reddish-brown back of eye ; sides of head and 

 throat black ; the feathers on the sides of the head stand out and 

 form broad tufts ; fore neck below the throat and flanks reddish- 

 brown ; back and wings blackish ; wing-patch white. Ad. in win- 

 ter and/m. — Top of head, hind neck, back, and wings blackish ; 

 throat and sides of head below eye white ; fore neck below throat 

 lightly washed with dusky ; rest of under parts silvery-white ; 

 wing-patch white. 



Nest, a bed of reeds, often floating. Eggs, dull white. 



The Horned Grebe is a common migrant along the sea- 

 coast in October and November, and in March and April ; 

 it also occurs as a mi- 

 grant on inland waters, 

 especially in the autumn, 

 but except on large 

 streams and lakes is not 

 nearly so common inland 

 as the preceding species. 

 Along the sea-coast it is 

 a common winter visit- 

 ant; it breeds sparingly 

 in northeastern Maine 

 (Knight). It is occasion- 

 ally seen in spring in the breeding plumage, when its " ruff" 

 of black and yellowish-brown is a striking sight ; but ordi- 

 narily it is blackish-brown above and white below. It may 

 always be distinguished from the preceding species by the 



Fig. 95. Horned Grebe, in Winter 



