PODICIPID.E — THE aREBBS — COLYMBUS. 429 



but is a very much larger bird, the difference in size being moreover entirely constant, as will 

 appear from the following measurements : — 



Wing 



A verage of 1 7 specimens of C. Hotbcellii . . 7.05 



" 4 " C. grisegena . . 6.03 



Minimum of Holbcellii 7.30 



Maximum of C. grisegena 7.00 



Examples from Eastern Asia appear to agree closely with those from North America. For the 

 former the name " cucullatus, Pall.," has generally been used ; but upon turning to p. 355 of the 



Winter adult [type of I'. Cooperi, Lawr). 



"Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica," w-e And that Pallas did not know the bird from Eastern Sfoeria, but 

 described, under the name cwntUatus, a specimen of the ordinary European species (ft grisegena, 

 Bodd.). 



The Bed-necked Grebe of North America, though probably not identical specifi- 

 cally with the European species, is closely allied to it both in appearance, mark- 

 ings, ami habits; but it is said to differ from that species in size, being larger arid 

 stouter. It is distributed from the Middle States northward ; being most common in 

 the Fur Countries, where it breeds, and from which region it straggles southward in 

 the winter as far as the Chesapeake. So far as known, it does not breed to the south 

 of Calais, Mc. In Northern Maine and New Brunswick — especially in the region of 

 the St. Croix River, as far south as St. Andrew — this species is found in considerable 

 numbers, and is much more common in tin' spring and in (lie fall than it is in the 

 summer, many of these birds remaining in that region throughout the winter. A few 

 of them stay during the summer and breed; but at that time they are present in 

 much fewer numbers than in winter. This Grebe has been observed to have the 

 same interesting peculiarities as the Homed Grebe and the Loon in regard to the 

 management of its young. As soon as these an' hatched the mother lakes them upon 

 her back, swims with them in this position, as if to sun them, and takes them with 

 her under the water when diving for their food — feeding them with small fishes 

 anil vegetable substances. 



This species is found as far west as the Pacific coast, and at least as far south as 

 Vancouver Island, where Mr. R. Browne obtained specimens. Mr. Bernard Ross 

 met with it on the Mackenzie River; and specimens have been received by the 

 Smithsonian Institution from the Red River Settlement. 



A single specimen was obtained by Mr. Elliott on the Prybilof Islands ; it was the 

 only one seen during his residence there. If hail been observed before by the natives. 



