GREBES 5 



ORDER PYGOPODBS : DIVING BIRDS. 



(FAMILIES PODICIPID^E, GAVIID^E, ALCID^E.) 



FAMILY PODICIFID-SJ : GREBES. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Bill long 1 and slender, tip not decurved. 

 2. Bill five or more times as long- as depth at base. 



JEchmophorus, p. 5. 

 2'. Bill less than four times as long as depth at base. 



Colymbus, p. 6. 

 1'. Bill short and stout, tip of upper mandible decurved. 



Podilymbus, p. 8. 



GENUS -ffiCHMOPHORUS. 



1. -ZEchmophorus occidentalis (Lawr.). WESTERN GREBE. 

 Head without side 

 crests; bill slender; 

 neck nearly as long 1 

 as body. Adults : 

 top of head and line 

 down back of neck 

 blackish ; back 

 slaty gray ; throat 

 and under parts sil- 

 very white. Male : 

 length 24-29, wing- 

 7.45-8.50, bill 2.60- 

 3.05. Female: 

 smaller, bill 2.10- 

 2.48. 



Distribution. From the Pacific to Manitoba, and from central Mexico 

 to British Columbia and Alberta. 



Nest. Floating- on the water, a raft of tule stems, grass, and water 

 plants, with a slight depression in the centre. Eggs : 4 to 5, white. 



To find the western grebe at home go to the tale-bordered lakes 

 of eastern Oregon. Creep through the tall grass and part the tules 

 on the edge of a clear pond, and right before you on the water is the 

 grebe, with its silvery throat, graceful form, and fiery eye. A sud- 

 den motion of your hand, and the needle-like bill pierces the water 

 and the bird disappears like a flash of light, to reappear a full 

 minute later well beyond shot-gun range from shore. If you make 

 yourself known less suddenly the grebe instead of diving sinks 

 slowly and without a ripple, never to reappear except far away or 

 in some hidden part of the tules. 



As you watch the birds out in the lake, popping up and remain- 

 ing long enough for a good breath, then going below to stay a much 



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