PODICIPES NIGRICOLLIS 393 



This is the only specimen I have seen from the Eegency, and the 

 species is probahly rare and of merely accidental occurrence in winter 

 on the Northwest African coast, as elsewhere in the Mediterranean. 



The bird recorded by Loche nuder this name as common and 

 breeding in Algeria must undoubtedly be the Eared Grebe. 



According to Colonel Irby, though unrecorded by Favier from 

 Marocco, the species is occasionally to be observed in the Straits of 

 Gibraltar, and he mentions having seen a specimen obtained there in 

 October, 1867 (Orn. Strs. Gib. p. 220). 



The range of this species extends further north than that of the 

 Eared Grebe, and the bird breeds in the Arctic and Subarctic regions 

 of both hemispheres. In winter it migrates in Europe as far south as 

 the Mediterranean, m Asia to about lat. 24° N., and in America to the 

 more northern portions of the United States, occasionally wandering 

 further south and even to the Bermudas. 



In its habits the present species is said not to differ appreciably 

 from its ally the Eared Grebe, though it is scarcely so shy as that bird. 

 It frequents both fresh-water lakes and the sea-coast, dives and swims 

 expertly, and is apparently less awkward on land than the larger 

 Grebes. The species has been observed by Proctor both swimming 

 and diving, with its young held under its wings, the heads of the young 

 birds being towards the tail, and their bills resting on the back of the 

 parent bird. 



The food of this Grebe is similiar to that of its congeners, and, 

 according to Mr. Eobert Gray (B. of W. of Scot. p. 407), feathers and 

 sand are also swallowed by it, together with vegetable substances. 



PODICIPES NIGRICOLLIS (C. L. Biehm). 

 EARED GREBE. 



Podiceps nigricollis, Brehm, Voij. Deutschl. p. 963 (1831) ; Loche, E.rpl. 



Sci. Ahj. Ois. ii, p. 224 (1867) ; Whitakcr, Ibis, 1895, p. 106. 

 Podiceps auritus, Malherhc, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 22 (1846) ; Koniig, 



J.f. (J. 1888, p. 297 ; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 105. 

 Podicipes nigricollis, Salvadori, Ucc. Ital. p. 302 (1887) ; Ogilvie-Grant, 



Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxvi, p. 532. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, horn Tunis. 



Entire head, neck and upper-parts black, with tufts extending from the 



