BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 77 



ANNOTATED LIST. 



1 [2] Colymbus holbcellii (Reinh.). 

 Holbcell's Grebe. 



Not uncommon winter visitor ; October 1 5 to May 24. 



This is the least common of the three Grebes in Essex County. During 

 the migrations it occasionally visits the ponds, but it is more frequently found in 

 the salt water. As many as five or six may sometimes be seen together in the 

 autumn off Ipswich Beach. In habits it closely resembles the Horned Grebe. 



The bird with which the Holbcell's Grebe is most likely to be confused on 

 the seashore, is the Red-throated Diver, but its smaller size and especially its 

 shorter bill and more delicate neck distinguish it on the water. In flight, the 

 white patch on the wing of the Grebe at once distinguishes it from the Diver. 

 It differs from the Horned Grebe in being considerably larger in size. 



2 [3] Colymbus auritus Linn. 

 Horned Grebe ; " Devil-diver " ; " Hell-diver." 



Common winter visitor ; October 1 to May 6. 



Although common off sandy beaches and in salt creeks, the Horned Grebe 

 is most often found in winter along rocky shores, singly and in small flocks. 

 During the migrations, when, like many other winter sea birds, it is most abun- 

 dant, it also swims in ponds and rivers, but less often than its fresh-water 

 cousin, the Dabchick. On October 1st, 1904, Dr. J. C. Phillips saw a flock of 

 twenty-six of these birds at Wenham Lake, and I saw as many as forty-three 

 together that same October off the beach at Ipswich. Such numbers are, how- 

 ever, unusual. 



The common names of the Grebe are clue to its skill in diving at the flash 

 of the gun, eluding even the swift shot. This, although it seems impossible, is 

 true even where the modern breech-loading gun is used. The bird apparently 

 sees the flash at the muzzle of the gun and dives before the shot reaches it. Of 

 course with the old flint-lock the bird had plenty of leisure to escape under water. 



