80 
WRITTEN FOR THE OREGON NATURALIST: 
WINTER BIRD LIFE IN SOUTHERN 
MASSACHUSETTS 
C, C, PURDUM 
(continued from page 62) 
(6) Podylimbus podiceps (852) 
RED BILLED GREBE 
This interesting variety of the grebe family, 
THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
ing results. Length 13.00 inches Extent 25.00 
Wing 4.90 Bill .75. During the winter months 
the birds range along the coast of the whole of 
temperate North America and have been re- 
ported even as far south as the southern bound- 
ary of Brazil. 
These birds have according to my notes 
(which however upon this particular species are 
rather deficient) been observed in relatively 
large numbers, every third year, in this _local- 
ity, but, the past winter which by the way was 
‘‘one of their years” only a few stragglers were 
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 
the 
months, although I must confess I have not ob- 
is fairly abundant here during winter 
served them as often or in such large numbers 
It 
nearly as abundant as the two former varieties 
as some observers have reported. is not 
and for some reason my notes upon it are en- 
How- 
ever, as it visits us during the winter the bili is 
tirely inadequate for a full description. 
of adull bluishcolor, with the crown and_ back 
of the head brown. 
white, shading into a crimson grayish (if such 
The under parts are pure 
can be imagined) color on the lower belly. 
The average length of four specimens taken 
at random from my collection give the follow- 
observed, asindeed was the case 
other fairly common migrants. 
with many 
The food supply in this locality is gathered 
from the rock weed which is so abundant here, 
and consists of minute mollusks found upon the 
weed. 
(7.) Urinator tmber (840) 
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. LOON. 
One of our most common, if not ¢e most 
common of our winter birds. This familiar bird 
arrives here about the first week November 
although I have often observed them here in 
the middle of summer. 
in 
This is probably due 
however to the fact that they were wounded and 
