NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 5 



6. Pied-billed Grebe. Pod ilym bus podiceps. 



Range. From the British provinces southward to Argentine Republic, 

 breeding locally throughout the northern portions of its range. 



The Dabchick, as this bird is called, is the most 

 evenly distributed bird of this family. Jt is 

 nowhere especially abundant, nor is it, except in 

 a very few localities, regarded as rare. Conse- 

 quently it is the best known bird of the species. 

 They do not congregate in such large numbers 

 as the other Grebes during the nesting season, 

 but one or more pairs may be found in almost 

 any favorable locality. These birds render 

 their floating nest a little more substantial than 

 those of the preceding varieties by the addition 

 of mud which they bring up from the bottom of 

 [Deepbuff.J the pond; this addition also tends to soil the 



eggs more, consequently the eggs of this bird are, as a general rule, browner than 

 the other Grebes with the exception of the Least. The bird may always l><- 

 known by the shape of its bill which is higher than it is broad, and in the sum- 

 mer is white with a black band across the middle. The throat is also black at 

 this season. They lay from five to nine eggs commencing about the middle of 

 May. Size 1.70 x 1.18. Data, Rice Lake, Minn., May 15. 1899. 5 eggs on a 

 mass of moss and decayed rushes, floating on the water. Collector, A. Hewitt. 



LOONS. Family GAVIIDAE. 



Loons may be likened to gigantic Grebes from which they differ externally, 

 chiefly in the full webbed foot instead of the individually webbed toes of the 

 Grebe, and in the sharper, more pointed and spear-like bill. These birds are 

 similar in their habits to the Grebes, except that their homes are generally more 

 substantially built and are placed upon a solid foundation, generally upon an 

 island is some inland lake. 



Both Loons and Grebes are literally "water witches", being practically, and in 

 the case of Grebes, actually, born in the water and living in it ever afterwards. 

 Loons are strong fliers, but like the Grebes, because of their small wings they 

 must get their first impetus from the water in order to rise; in case there is any 

 wind blowing they also make use of this by starting their flight against it. 

 They are very peculiar birds and the expression "crazy as a loon" is not a 

 fanciful one, being formed from their early morning and evening antics when 

 two or more of them will race over the top of the water, up and down the lake, 

 all the while uttering their demoniacal laughter. They vie with the Grebes in 

 diving and disappear at the flash of a gun. 



