Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 487 



ber and Januaiy. It is evidently a spring and fall migrant. 

 Dates on which we definitely recorded it are as follows : In 1899, 

 on September 30 when two were shot at Long Point; in 1900, on 

 September 14, on October 17 and 18, on November 1, 3, 4, 8 and 

 12, and December 8, ail off Long Point; in 1901, on January 2, 

 April 19, June 11, September 30 and October 8; in 1902, on Oc- 

 tober 19 ; in 1904, on October 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31, and 

 on November 2, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 15; in 1907, on October 15 and 22; 

 and in 1913, on October 3, 6, 17 and 20. It may have been seen at 

 other times but at the distance observed and in the condition of 

 plumage could not be positively distinguished from the more com- 

 mon pied-billed grebe. 



Though it is said to breed at some of the small lakes in north- 

 ern Indiana we have never found its nest here, nor have we seen 

 the species in mid-summer. June 11 is the latest date in spring 

 on which we have seen it, and the earliest date in the fall is Sep- 

 tember 14. From then on until the lake freezes over it may be 

 observed almost any day. A few^ usually linger until the last open 

 spaces in the lake begin to close, then they disappear. The latest 

 date on which it has been recorded is January 2 when one was seen 

 in an open pool in the ice near the Weedpatch. 



The Horned Grebe is a solitary bird, rarely seen in flocks. 

 Sometimes 2 or 3 may be together, and on rare occasions as many 

 as 5 or 6, but usually only 1 or 2 may be seen. Occasionally they 

 may be found mixed in with a flock of coots, the grebes sometimes 

 surrounded by the coots ; at other times on the edge or outskii-ts of 

 the flock. They prefer to stay near shore and in the nooks and 

 coves and protected corners of the lake, although at times they may 

 be seen out in the open, exposed places. 



These innocent birds are frequently shot in pure wantonness 

 by irresponsible boys and others who, seeing them near shore, can- 

 not resist the foolish desire to shoot at any bird seen on the water. 

 Doubtless they are sometimes mistaken for ducks by the ill-in- 

 formed. Dead grebes are often found along the shore. 



An examination of a number of stomachs showed that their 

 food consists chiefly of vegetable matter, with an occasional small 

 fish, mollusk or crustacean. No food or game fish was found in 

 any grebe's stomach. The only species found were skipjacks 

 (Labidesthes sic cuius) , graybacks {Fundulus diaphauits), and 

 some of the Cyprinidse. The stomach of one examined November 

 3 contained vegetable fibers and possibly a few feathers. Another 

 examined November 9 contained only a small quantity of feathers. 

 They are, therefore, entirely harmless and should be protected. 



