Descriptive List 19 



neath the pier on which one may be standing. This bird is often called Water 

 Witch. During April and May, Horned Grebes are also found on bodies of fresh 

 water where they have paused for food and rest while journeying to their breeding 

 grounds. Records of their occurrence inland are: Asheville, 1891 (Cairns); 

 Greensboro, April, 1902, and Mecklenburg County, November 1, 1908 (Pearson). 



Genus Podilymbus (Less.) 



3. Podilymbus podiceps {Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. 



Description: Ads. in summer. — Upperparts glossy, brownish black; throat black; upper breast, 

 front and sides of neck, and sides of body, washed with brownish and indistinctly mottled with 

 blackish; lower breast and belly white; a black band across bill. Ads. in winter and Im. — Much 

 like the above, but throat white and no black band on bill. L., 13.50; W. 5.10; Tar., 1.45; 

 B., .85. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Fig. 2. Pied-billed Gkebe. 



Range. — North and South America, breeding tliroughout its range, but often rare or local. 

 Winters from Virginia southward. 



Ra7ige in North Carolina. — Whole State, probably at all seasons in suitable situations; known 

 to breed at Lake Ellis in Craven County. 



Our data regarding the occurrence of the Pied-billed Grebe, commonly kno^\Ti as 

 the Didapper, or Hell-diver, are rather meager, but are sufficient to warrant the 

 conclusion that it is likely to appear in any part of the State at any season of the 

 year. 



As with all grebes, the wings of this bird are remarkably small for the weight 

 they have to carry. Seldom does it resort to flight when alarmed. At times it 

 will sink slowly beneath the surface until only the bill is visible; again, springing 

 forward, it will dive with astonishing quickness. On such occasions it often swims 

 for a considerable distance until the necessity for air drives it to the surface. Owing 

 to the position of the legs, placeil almost at the extreme end of the body, walking 

 becomes a laborious task, and is an exercise in which the bird rarely indulges. 

 Specimens have been recorded from Raleigh, Lake Ellis, White Lake, Chapel Hill, 

 Guilford College, Weaverville, Highlands, and Greensboro. H. H. Brimley saw 

 three on Lake Ellis, in Craven County, early in June, 1905, and Pearson repeatedly 

 heard its call issuing from the reeds and lily-pads on that lake in June, 1898. On 

 June 18, 1909, H. H. Brimley, Bowdish, and others of their party found on Lake 

 Ellis three Grebes' nests that contained eggs; five eggs were found in two of these, 

 and six in the third. Other nests, but no eggs, were found on the same waters in 

 Mav, 1911. 



