38 



MICHIGAN BIRD jLIFE. 



rushes, etc., and although the nest is usually anchored to surrounding 

 vegetation it not infrequently floats about more or less and is said to be 

 sometimes attached in such a way that it can rise and sink as the level 

 of the water changes. 



It lays from three to five eggs, which are white, more or less stained 

 by the fermenting herbage of the nest, and average 1.78 by 1.20 inches. 



This grebe frequently avoids the sportsman's shot by diving at the flash 

 of the gun, but is much less successful since nitro-powder came into general 

 use. It also has the power, in common with other members of the family, 

 of sinking slowly beneath the surface until only the head, or even the bill 

 remains above, and it is able to remain entirely submerged for at least 

 several minutes; exact determination of the length of time should be made 

 by some one who has good opportunity for observation. 



The food is mainly fish, but aquatic insects are frequently found in its 

 stomach. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



The adult in breeding plumage has the top of the head, back of neck and the chin brownish 

 black to sooty black, deepest on the crown; there is a prominent ruff or hood about the 

 back of the head consisting of elongated feathers, about half buff or cinnamon, the re- 

 mainder brownish black; the front and sides of the neck and the sides of the chest are 

 chestnut, remainder of the lower parts silky white, back and rump slaty black. The 

 secondaries are mostly white and very conspicuous in flight; there is no evident tail. Bill 

 slender, black, tipped with yellow; iris red. Sexes alike. Winter plumage mainly grayish 

 black above and pure white below with no trace of buff or chestnut and little indication 

 of the hood or ruff. The slender bill and larger amount of white in the wings are the 

 characters most readily separating it from the Pied-bill Grebe in the same plumage. Length, 

 12.50 to 15.25 inches; wing, 5.75. 



3. Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.). (6) 



Synonyms: Dabchick, Dipper, Water-witch, Hell-diver, Die-dapper or Dive-dapper, 

 Carolina Grebe. — Colymbus podiceps, Linn., 1758. — Podiceps carolinensis, Lath., 1790, 

 and most of the earlier American writers. 



Figures 1,2,3. 



Fig. 1. Pied-billed Grebe. 

 From Niittairs Ornithology (Chamberlain). LitUe, Browi 



