TJfE HORNED GREBE. 177 



The Dabchick breeds -abundantly about St. Clair Flats, 

 still more abundantly to the northwest, as in Northern Min- 

 nesota and Dakota, and more or less, indeed, from the 

 northern limits of the Southern States to the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence; and though its winter habitat is in the South- 

 ern States, it has been found in midwinter as far north as 

 Southern New England. 



THE HORNED GREBE. 



The Horned Grebe (Podiceps cornutus) is the most numer- 

 ous member of its family in this locality during the migra- 

 tions. In the last week of April or the first week of May, it 

 is very common on our streams and ponds. On the broad 

 and beautiful current of Niagara River, below the gorge, these 

 birds may then appear in flocks of hundreds; and their sport- 

 ing and diving is a sight worth seeing. Now they are all 

 gliding hither and thither along the surface; now they go 

 down in rapid succession till every bird is under water, and 

 again they come up as quickly, till the vast number is once 

 more in full sight. Now the male expands his ruff to full 

 effect, giving his thus greatly enlarged head, set off with 

 pointed bill and red eyes, altogether a peculiar appearance. 

 Probably all the Grebes migrate for the most part by means 

 of the great water-courses, and so depend but little on their 

 rather imperfect powers of flight in this great emergency. 



In the early days of spring, as the Horned Grebes pass 

 along our inland water-courses, it is so common to see them 

 in pairs that I infer they must mate before leaving their 

 winter habitat. 



About 14.00 long, wing some 6.00, bill .75 and quite 



slender and pointed, the male has the crest and ruffs 



well developed. Very dark brown above, many of the 



feathers generally fringed with light gray; below satiny 



12 



