THE BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



ORDER PYGOPODES. DIVING BIEDS. 



SUBORDER PODICIPEDES. GREBES AND LOONS. 



FAMILY PODICIPID^. GREBES. 



GENUS COLYMBUS LINN. 



SUBGENUS COLYMBUS. 

 COLYMBUS HOLBCELLII (REINH.). 



*1. Holboell's Grebe. (2)t 



Tarsus about four-fifths the middle toe and claw ; bill little shorter than 

 tarsus ; crests and ruff moderately developed. Length, about 18 ; wings, 7-8 ; 

 bill, 1 to nearly 2; tarsus, 3; middle toe and claw, 2. Adult: Front and 

 sides of neck rich brownish-red; throat and sides of head ashy, whitening 

 where it joins the dark color of the crown, the -feathers .slightly ruffed; top of 

 head with its slight occipital crest, upper parts generally, and wings dark 

 brown, the feathers of the back paler edged ; primaries brown ; part of inner 

 quills white; lower parts pale silvery-ash, the sides watered or obscurely 

 mottled, sometimes obviously speckled with dusky ; bill black, more or less 

 yellow at base. The young may be recognized by these last characteristics, 

 joined with the peculiar dimensions and proportions. 



HAB. North America at large, including Greenland. Also Eastern Siberia, 

 and southward to Japan. Breeds in high latitudes, migrating south in winter. 



Nest, a floating clump of vegetable material fastened to the reeds in shallow 

 water. 



Eggs, two to five, rough-dull white, shaded with greenish. 



In Ontario, the Red-necked Grebe is only a transient visitor, its 

 summer home being far to the north of this province, and its winter- 

 quarters to the south. 



It breeds abundantly along the borders of the Yukon River in 

 Alaska, and has also been found by Macoun so engaged on the 

 Waterhen River and south end of Waterhen Lake. 



Current number. t Number in American Ornithologists' Union "Check List." 



