Birds of the Coast Region. 



ORDER PYGOPODES: DIVING BIRDS. 



FAMILY COLYMBID^ : GREBES. 



1. Colymbus auritus Linn. Horned Grebe. 



The Horned Grebe is a common winter and early spring visi- 

 tant, arriving between October 30 and November 3, and remaining 

 in small numbers until the second week in April. The great 

 majority migrate during the second week in March, and it is 

 rare to see one in full nuptial plumage while they sojourn here. 

 A belated example, in almost perfect nuptial plumage, was 

 taken by Dr. Eugene Edmund Murphey at Cape Romain on May 

 15, 1904, and another specimen, also in nuptial plumage, was 

 secured by the writer near Mt. Pleasant on June 5, 1907. 



This species breeds from the northern United States north- 

 ward. 



2. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. 



This is an abundant permanent resident, breeding in freshwater 

 ponds or large rice-field reservoirs, where the water is gen- 

 erally from four to ten feet deep. The birds are mated by the 

 last of February, and the nests, which are commenced about the 

 middle of March, are composed of decayed vegetable matter 

 anchored to buttonwood bushes or reeds. 



The number of eggs varies from six to eight. They are bluish 

 white, usually stained with brown, and measure 1.75X1.20. A 

 set of eight eggs which contained small embryos was taken April 

 11, 1900. Both sexes incubate and only one brood is raised. 

 After the breeding season, both young and adults betake them- 

 selves to the saltwater creeks, very rarely going as far as the in- 

 lets. During the breeding season, the food consists mainly of 

 leeches. The breeding plumage is worn for a long period, as a 

 specimen taken July 26, 1898, was still in full nuptial plumage. 



