GREBES 5 



ORDER PYGOPODES: DIVING BIRDS. 



(Families Podicipid^, Gaviid.e, Alcid^.) 



FAMILY PODICIPIDiE: GREBES. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



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



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



-Sjchmophorus, p. 5. 

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



Colymbus, p. (>. 

 1'. Bill short and stout, tip of upper mandible decurved. 



Podilymbus, p. s. 



GENUS ^EJCHMOPHORUS. 



1. -SJchmophorus oceidentalis (L<ttvr.). Western Grebe. 

 Head without side 

 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 : 

 leng-th 24-29, wing- 

 7.45-8.50. bill 2.()(l- 

 8.05. 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 slight depression in the centre. Eygs : 4 to 5, white. 



To find the western grebe at home go to tlie 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 tlie l)ird disappears like a flash of light, to reappear a full 

 minute later well beyond shot-gun range from shore. If y(Mi 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, popjiing- up and remain- 

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



