58 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Colymbus dominicus, Hitter, Naturh. Reis. Westind. Insel Hayti, 1836, p. 

 157 (listed).— Cory, Cat. West Indian Birds, 1892, p. SI (Haiti, Dominican 

 Republic). — Verrill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1909, p. 355 (Yavon 

 River, San Lorenzo; " Yaqui " River, Miranda; rare). — Beebe, Zool. Soc. Bull., 

 vol. 30, 1927, p. 138; Beneath Tropic Seas, 1928, p. 217 (Etang Miragoane). 



Colymbus dominicus dominicus, Peters, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 61, 

 1917, p. 396 (Cabrera, specimen; El Batey). — Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Philadelphia, vol. 80, 1928, p. 489 (Etang Miragoane, Port-de-Paix). 



Resident; fairly common, in fresh-water marshes, lagoons and 

 sluggish streams. 



The West Indian grebe is so shy that it is observed with difficulty, 

 so that it is probable that it is more common than the few records 

 available indicate. It inhabits fresh waters where there is abundant 

 aquatic growth to afford it shelter. When alarmed it escapes by 

 submerging slowly or by a rapid dive, after which it may rise to 

 the surface at a distance or may come up within the rushes so that 

 it is not again seen. Its mysterious disappearances are proverbial 

 among hunters and others who invade its haunts. 



Brisson's account on which the Linnaean name now recognized 

 for this bird was based, states that this grebe was sent from " S. 

 Domingue " by Chervain for the collection of M. de Reaumur. In 

 spite of this early reference to the species there are few other definite 

 records for Hispaniola. Salle mentions it from a marsh on the 

 plains near Higuey. Cory did not find it. Christy says : " In July, 

 while shooting in the Yuna swamp, I several times obtained a good 

 view of this grebe. It was very shy, and always dived or swam 

 into the rushes on the first appearance of the boat." Verrill records 

 it from the Rio Yavon near San Lorenzo, and near Miranda. For 

 the latter locality he reports it from the " Yaqui River," apparently 

 an error for the Rio Yuna which passes near Miranda, as the Yaqui 

 del Norte is far distant. Peters shot a male March 11, 1916 at Cabrera, 

 where he found " two or three others of the same species in a small, 

 muddy pool less than forty yards across." He saw three more in a 

 lagoon at El Batey April 5. On May 13, 1927, at an altitude of 

 1,500 feet above the sea in the hills between Sanchez and Las Terrenas, 

 as Wetmore looked out from a commanding knoll across the little 

 lake known as the Laguna de Rancho Fabian, one of these grebes 

 suddenly appeared on the surface, followed a few seconds later by 

 another. Since this lake is small and is entirely surrounded by heavy 

 forest it seemed a most unlikely place for the species. Turtles were 

 seen in the same water. He did not meet the bird elsewhere. 



In the Republic of Haiti the species is known from several points 

 including two specimens, both immature females, taken by Dr. W. L. 

 Abbott at Port-de-Paix on April 4 and 14, 1917, and from the account 

 of Bond who reports it from Etang Miragoane and Port-de-Paix. 



