GREBES 7 



The Holboell grebe nests in isolated pairs in reeds along the mar- 

 gins of shallow, fish-frequented lakes, preferabl}' in forested country, 

 but also in prairie regions. 



Subgenus Dytes. 



3. Colymbus auritus Linn. Horned Grebe. 



About the size of the dabchick, but slenderer ; sexes similar ; elieeks 

 and sides of head with crests or ruffs in adults. 

 Breeding plumage : sides of head with yellow tufts 

 of silky feathers, rest of head and tlu-oat black ; 

 upper parts dusky ; lower neck, chest, and sides 

 rufous ; breast silvery white. Winter adults and 

 young : crests .scant or wanting- ; throat white ; sides 

 with little or no rufous. Length: 1 2.50- I-j.^."), wing- 

 about 5.75, bill about .8.5-1.01). 



Be marks. — The young can usually be distin- 

 guished from young- calif ornicus by the bill, which is 

 liigher than wide at base. 



Distribution. — Northern part of noi*thern hemi- 

 sphere, breeding- in North America chiefly noi-th 

 of the United States ; migrating- south over the 

 United States. 



Nest. — Made of reeds, grass, and mud, attached 

 to reeds, or on floating masses of sticks and sedges. 



In full plumage, with their big crests and mufflers and rich colors, 

 the horned grebes easily rank as the handsomest of their family. 

 In the United States they are seen on their migration journeys 

 usually in small tlocks, late in fall or following close on the retreat- 

 ing ice in spring. In their northern summer home tl 'ir habits are 

 said to be similar to those of other grebes. 



4.' Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Heerm.). Eared Grebe. 



Itrexling plumage. — A fan-sliaped tuft of yellow silky feathers on each 

 side of head ; rest of head, neck, and chest black ; back blackish ; sides 

 l)ro\vn; breast silvery white. Winter plumage and i/oung : upper ])arts and 

 sides dusky ; throat and ear patch white or g-rayish ; bill slender, wider 

 than (lt'<'p at base ; crests wanting-. Length : lli-14, wing- 5.;'.0, bill 1. 



Distribution. — Western North America, east to the Mississip])i, north to 

 (heat Slave Lake, south to Guatemala, breeding- throughout most of its 

 range. 



^V^'.s-^ — Floating on shallow water in ponds or lakes ; made of rushes. 

 Eggs : 4 to (5, .soiled white. 



In the Great Basin country where tall tules grow half way across 

 soini! of the big shallow lakes, the cared grebes have made their 

 homes for ages, rai-sing their young in peace and as much quiet as 

 the cackling of coots and rails, the quacking of ducks, and laughing 

 of stilts and avocets would allow. Out in the open j^onds diving for 

 minnows, gliding among the dark tule stems, or brooding on their 

 Moating nests and caring for their downy black chicks, they have 



