18 



HOLBCELL GREBE 

 2. Colymbus holbcelli. 19 inches. 



This is next to the Western Grele in size, both being 

 much larger than any of our others. In summer, they 

 are very handsomely marked with a reddish brown neck, 

 silvery white cheeks and throat, and black crown and 

 crest. 'but in winter they take on the usual grebe dress 

 of grayish above and glossy white below. Because of 

 their silky appearance and firm texture, grebe breasts 

 of all kinds have been extensively used in the past to 

 adorn hats of women, who were either heedless or igno- 

 rant of the wholesale ^slaughter that was carried on 

 that they might obtain them. 



Nest. Of decayed rushes like that of the last. Xot 

 in as large colonies; more often single pairs will be 

 found nesting with other varieties. Their eggs average 

 smaller than those of the last species (2.35x1.25). 



Range. Xorth America, breeding most abundantly in 

 th interior of Canada, and to some extent in the Da- 

 kotas. Winters in the U. S., chiefly on the coasts. 



