



Thick-billed and Carolina Grebe, Pied-bill Dabchick, Dipper, Water-witch, 

 "Devil-diver," and ; ;" are some of the names applied to this Grebe. Most 



of these refer to its wonderful powers of disappearance under water, and by one or 

 more of these names it is known to every boy who has wandered with a gun along 

 any of our creeks and rivers. It is a common bird throughout its range. The nest 

 of the Dabchick is a little floating island of decaying rushes, reeds or grass, mixed 

 with mud and debris brought up from the bottom of the slough or reedy pool in 

 whfbh It is built. The structure is fastened to the flags and aquatic plants; these are 

 pulled down and piled upon each other till the nest rises two or three inches above 

 the water. Mr. A. M. Shields informs me that in the neighborhood of Los Angeles, 

 Gala,, this species is very abundant any lake or pond without the presence of two 

 or tbree little Grebes seems very barren indeed. It nests about the middle of May. 

 number of eggs laid by this species ranges from six to nine; the complement, 

 however, is usually seven, and their average size is 1.72x1.17. Five specimens se- 

 lected from five sets exhibit the following dimensions: 1.68x1.19, 1.70x1.18, 1.73x1.18, 

 :.1T. 1.70x1.17. In Kansas, in the latter part of May, a number of nests were 

 found containing from five to ten eggs each.* This species, like other Grebes, during 

 the process of incubation, conceals its eggs with a covering of weeds and other 

 vegetable material during the day, "and they are uncovered at dusk by the bird, 

 who incubates them until the morning sun relieves her of her task." 



7. LOON. Urinator imhcr (Gunn.) Geog. Dist. Northern part of Northerm 

 Hemisphere. In North America breeds from the Northern States northward; ranges 

 Jn winter south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



The Loons are large, heavy birds, with flattened bodies and rather long necks; 



the legs are placed far back in the body, giving them great propelling power in the 



water. They are the most expert of all divers, disappearing beneath the water at 



the flash of a gun. The present species is known as the Great Northern Diver. In 



North America it is found from the Atlantic to the Pacific, breeding from about 



<le 42 northward to within the Arctic circle. Mr. Nelson states that this Loon 



Is less common on the shores of Bering Sea than either the Pved or the Black-throated 



;-3, but is far from rare at most places.f Mr. W. A. Davidson found the Loon 



nesting In the marshes of the Detroit River. Mr. Edson A. McMillan informs me that 



i ommon in the lakes of the Adirondack mountain region during the 



pawn, which is about the first part of June. H i< th. \ breed on the 



islands occupied as breeding grounds by the American Hrrrinj,' Cull. /./;//* <inj<-n- 



tatv* of nine different Loons' i nxd, 



sned material of any Kin.]; :';ry were sirr.ply hollows i:i the sand 



re the eggs were d'! man and ' ami oihi-r lo- 



' birds are known to build a rouKhly-furmcMl hollow o It, sod 



: .irds of Crr< nland." : ayi that 



he obtained from tl n eggs of this sped The 



Loon's eggs arc very dark-colored, of an olivaceous brown, sometimes olivaceous 



Eg. Vr 



t Report i 



II. nrv V- . .1 mull r tin- ili- 



rectton of the ct ad in >"- 



nectl Signal 8* \ B P tus. Washington: Government 



;ng Office. 



