Zoological Explorations.. 249 



PoDiLYMBUs PODiCEPS (Linn.). Picd-hilled Grebe. Abund- 

 ant on the pond just mentioned. The wonderful expertness 

 exhibited by these birds in diving was a constant source of 

 interest to us. I question the possibility of hitting them if 

 they are so situated that they can see the flash of the gun. 

 The method recommended by Dr. Coues of aiming imme- 

 diately in front of these birds did not prove a conspicuous 

 success. The best chance is to shoot them as they come up 

 after diving, and before they have time to get their bearing. 

 I was interested -on one occasion in seeing a young grebe dive 

 down some distance, and then hold with its bill to a plant at 

 the bottom of the water, which was clear and shallow at that 

 place. The conspicuous stripes on the head and neck of 

 young grebes is hard to account for. The pattern is a bold 

 one, and certainly renders the young birds more conspicuous 

 than the parents, which is an exceptional thing among birds. 

 Perhaps this peculiar streaking is for protection while the 

 voung remain on the nest, and in among the reeds, where the 

 streaks would assimilate well with the shadow of the reeds; 

 but out in the open water this coloration certainl}- seems un- 

 fortunate. 



Four specimens secured; i 2, 1 Jnv. and 2 in the down. 



Family ukINATORID.e. Looxs and Auks. 



Urinator imber (Gunn). Loon, Common, especially 

 along the south side of Cedar Lake, where the weird, mock- 

 ing laugh of this uncanny bird was often heard, especially 

 toward evening and in threatening weather. One day, while 

 sitting in the camp on the bank of a stream, one of these 

 birds popped up from the water in front of me. I remained 

 motionless until it dived again, and then ran for my gun. 

 Returning without being seen, I shot the instant it came up 

 again, not giving the bird a chance to get the water out of its 

 eyes. My experiences with loons and grebes are alike. They 

 will almost always dive in time to save themselves if they can 

 see the flash of the gun. 



I have noticed that the flesh of the loon is very dark, almost 



