434 THE DIVING BIRDS — PYGOPODES. 



A single specimen of this bird is recorded by Major Wedderburn as having been 

 taken in Bermuda in 1846 ; and Mr. Hurdis mentions that a fine specimen in the 

 spring plumage was shot in February, 1855. 



Professor Kumlien informs me that this Grebe arrives in Southern Wisconsin in 

 April, and is not rare in Lake Koskonong in May. It keeps within a few rods of the 

 shore, where the water is not too shallow, but is rarely, if ever, seen far out in the 

 lake. It is not known to breed there, and is not seen in the summer. 



In 1842, when collecting on the Island of Gottland, in the Baltic, July 14, Mr. 

 Kumlien procured seven adult specimens and four young chicks. The old birds were 

 quite tame, and would not take to wing, or did so very reluctantly. When startled 

 they flew very sharply, but low. They were great divers ; but the water being less 

 than two feet deep, and clear, he could easily see them under the water, and caught 

 two of the old birds while they were diving. He has never met with this species in 

 the fall. 



This Grebe probably breeds from New Brunswick to Oregon in all suitable places, 

 and north of those regions. In the neighborhood of Pembina its eggs are found by 

 the middle of June, on nests essentially similar to all those of this family, being 

 floating masses of reeds. The young are nearly full-grown by the last of July or 

 the first of August. Examples of this species were secured in large numbers, during 

 the breeding-season, at Fort Resolution, on the Yukon, by Mr. Kennicott ; by Mr. 

 Ross on the Anderson, near Fort Simpson, Fort Rae, and Fort Resolution; on Big 

 Island by Mr. Reid ; and on the Lower Mackenzie by Mr. Sibbiston. 



The eggs of this species are usually four in number. They are very nearly oval, 

 with little difference in either end, and have quite a smooth surface. The ground- 

 color, like that of the eggs of all the Grebes, is originally of a bluish chalky-white, 

 but more or less rncrasted. They almost always become discolored, and are thus 

 changed to various shades of buff, brown, and even, in some instances, to orange. 

 Eggs from Great Slave Lake and from the Yukon River, in the National Museum, 

 vary in length from 1.60 to 1.80 and 1.85 inches, and in breadth from 1.10 to 1.15 

 and 1.20. The longest eggs have usually the smallest breadth. 



Dytes nigricollis. 



THE EARED GREBE. 



a. Nigricollis. 



Colynibus auritits, Linn. Faun. Suec ed. 2, 1761, 53 (part; not of 1758). 



I'niliiYjK >iii/riaj/lis, Brehm, Vbg. DeutscM. 1S31, 963. 



Dytes nigricollis, RlDGW. Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 733. 



Ewred Grebe, Yarr. Brit. B. ed. 2, III. 417 ; ed. 3, III. 420, fig. ; et Auct. 



b. Californicus. 



Podiceps "Hn'tux, Xrrr. Mail. II. 1834, 'J.".<'.. An.. Orn. Biog. V. 1S39, 108, pi. 404 ; Synop. 1839, 

 358 ; B. Am. VII. 1844, 322, pi. 4S2. — Lawk, in Build's B. X. Am. lS.OS, 897. 



Podiceps californicus, Hbbem. Br. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1854, 179 ; Pacific R. I,'. Rep. X. 1859, 76, 

 ].]. S (young). — Lawr. in Baird'a I'.. X. Am. 1858, 896. — Baird. < lat. X Am. B. 1859, no. 707. 



Podiceps [Pi-octopus) californicus, Coues, l'r. Ac. Nat. Sri. Philad. 1S62, 231, 4i>4. 



Podiceps aurilus, var. califni-nieiix, i'iives, Key, 1S72, 337 ; Check List, 1873, no. 612 ; Birds N. W. 

 1874, 733. 



Podicipes aiiritus californicus, Courcs, 2d Cheek List, 1SS2, no. 850. 



Dytes nigricollis caHfornicus, Ridgw. Xom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 733 a. 



