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the head; upper part of the head, nape, and upper parts dusky; 

 throat, and a large patch on the sides of the head, nearly meeting 

 behind, white ; fore-neck grayish-white ; lower parts glossy-white ; 

 vent grayish ; bill and feet bluish, the former with a white spot at 

 the tip. 



This bird I have met with in various districts, from New-Orleans 

 to Green Bay, and it is said that " during summer it is abundant in 

 the Fur Countries, frequenting every stream with grassy borders." 

 With us it is quite common, and it is well known to the gunners by 

 the name of " Hell Diver," so called from its activity in diving. It 

 inhabits usually the submerged meadows, and when surprised, 

 avoids pursuit by diving. In the month of June it commences pre- 

 paring its nest, which is constructed of coarse materials, and attach- 

 ed to the rank grass and weeds. The eggs, which are from three 

 to four in number, are white, spotted with dull brown. Its food is 

 chiefly fish, which imparts to its flesh an unpalatable flavor. The 

 North-western Indians, in whose district of country it is said to 

 abound, convert the soft and silken plumage of the breast into gar- 

 ments. 



PODICEPS CAROLINENSIS— LATHAM. 



PIED-BILL DOBCHICK, OR GREBE. 



Podiceps carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. 

 Podiceps carolinensis, Pied-bill Grebe, Sw. & Rich. 

 Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis, Nuttall. 

 Pied-bill Dobchick, Podiceps carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Rill pale blue, the ridge of the upper mandi- 

 ble dusky ; a black band on the lower anterior to the nostrils along 

 the gap one inch and a half, tarsi one and a half. Adult male with 

 the upper part of the head, nape, back and wings blackish-brown, 

 with a few touches of reddish-brown on the former ; cheeks grayish- 

 white ; a patch of black on the throat ; fore neck and sides of the neck 

 reddish-brown ; upper portion of the neck lighter ; breast and abdo- 

 men silver white ; sides of the body dusky, intermixed with reddish- 

 brown; vent dusky. Female without the black band on the bill, 

 or the black patch on the throat. Length fourteen inches, wing 

 five and a half. 



