FAMILY rOUKIPID.E. 



GLEBES. 



133 



The Horned Grebe is sometimes confounded with the Pied-I)ilied Grebe 

 in winter dress, but the former species has a more pointed and sliirhtly lonsfer 

 bill and tarsus. Both this and the next species are known to gunners b}- 

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

 Die Dipper. 



No. H. The Amerieuii E;irfd (ii-clje, C nhjricnUis ca/ifornirys, hnf, Ix'cii tjikcii in Illinois. 

 (Ridr/wnji.) 



Genus PODILYMBUS Lesson. 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (Lixx.) 



Pied-billed Grebe. Hell Diver. 



Sp. char. Adult in summer : Above, glossy 

 durk brown or brownish l)l:ic'k; throat, bhick, 

 and a Ijlack band on Ihe bill; front of neck 

 and sides of neck and body, tini;;ed with 

 pale browu; belly, silvery white. 



Adult in lointer : Similar, but lackin<;' the 

 black throat and without the black band on 

 the bill; lower belly, tinged with gray. 



Lruffth : 1:^.50; wing, 5; tarsus, 1.45; 

 bill, .!)0. 



Distribution : British Provinces, south- 

 ward to r>ra/.il. Argentine Kepuiilic, and ( 'liili, 

 including ^Vest Indit'sand Uernuida. hi-ceding 

 nearly throughout its range {A. O. U.) : win- 

 ters from New Jersey southward. 



N'est and eggs : The nest is composed of a 

 mass of floating vcigetation or a mat of grass 

 on slightly submerged marshes. The eggs 

 arc yi'Mowi'li wliiti' or dirty white, usually 

 troMi three to eight, and measure about 1.70 

 X 1 .20. 



Famiia ( "i.W 1 1! ). 1{. Loons. 



Restricted to five known -iprcic-.. Tbc toes :ir<' four, lull uebbcd in tront : the hind toe. 

 separ;il>', w iili -mall ll:i|i of |cil>i' ; the i.ir-:us i< Ikillened. Tin- legs .-ire set far back, rendering 

 w.ilking dillicult. Tin ir food cou^i-l- |)riiicipally of llsh. wiiii-h they cateii with great drx- 

 tcrity, being expert suinnmr- and dixfr-. 



