20 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



observed or taken on inland bodies of water in the State, but 

 no such instances are known during the breeding season and 

 reports of its breeding in Maine cannot be substantiated. The 

 nests are ordinarily found floating on the water among reeds 

 and other vegetation in sloughs, and marshes in inland locali- 

 ties. A set of four eggs taken at Snake Lake, Alberta, Canada, 

 June 24, 1895, were said to have been found in a nest composed 

 of decayed vegetation, floating on water in a marsh. These 

 eggs are dirty or greenish white, unspotted, and somewhat 

 stained by the nest material which they were in contact with. 

 They measure 2.19x1.44, 2.13x1.41, 2.13 x 1.47, and 2.16 

 X 1.45 inches. The number of eggs laid may vary from two 

 to five. As far as can be ascertained the food of these birds 

 along the coast consists of small fish and surface swimming 

 crustaceans, while in inland regions they have been reported as 

 eating tadpoles as well as fish. Though pre-eminently at home 

 in the water, preferring in case of danger to seek safety by 

 diving rather than by flight, these birds are nevertheless able 

 to fly long distances with considerable rapidity. When on the 

 wing they fly with rapid strokes, head and feet stretched full 

 length in front and behind, respectively. Their call note is 

 said to be a rasping cough, or croak. 



Subgenus DYTES Kaup. 



3. Colymbus aur'ttus Linn. Horned Grebe. 



Plumage in summer adults : back and wings blackish, ranging to glossy 

 black on neck, throat and top of head ; upper portion of breast and adjoining 

 part of neck, sides and lores chestnut ; stripe and plumes near eye buffy 

 yellowish ; lower portion of breast and belly white. Winter adults and 

 immature plumage : above a general grayish-black ; beneath white, some- 

 times locally washed with grayish. Wing, 5.40 to 5.75; culmen, 0.95; 

 tarsus, 1.75. 



Geog. Dist. — Northern hemisphere, breeding in this country from the 

 northern tier of states northward ; in winter found southward to the Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



County Records. — Cumberland; rare, near Bridgton, (Mead) ; rather com- 

 mon in migrations, a few probably winter, (Brown, C. B. of P. p. 36). Han- 

 cock; common migrant, (Dorr). Knox; winter resident, (Norton). Oxford; 



