43 



3. Horned Grebe. FR. LE GR&BE CORNU. Colymbus auritus. L. 13 '50. The 

 Horned Grebe is about the same size as the Pied-billed Grebe mentioned next, but with a 

 much sharper and more slender bill. The summer adult has a red neck (much like Holboall's), 

 prominent ochraceous ear tufts, and a full projecting ruff on the cheeks from hindhead to 

 throat. In the autumn and winter a shining almost black and white head contrasts with 

 the duller coloration of the Pied-billed Grebe. 



Distinctions. The juvenile, a plain, greyish-black and white bird, may be mistaken 

 for the young Pied-billed Grebe, but can be distinguished by its shiny white forehead and 

 breast, slender bill, and white wing patch. 



Field Marks. Slender, sharp bill, white foreneck and wingpatch. 



Nesting. Similar to the preceding. 



Distribution. Across the continent, breeding locally within the borders of present 

 settlement and northward, but more commonly west than east. 



The Horned Grebe on migration inhabits the larger bodies of water 

 and is less commonly seen on the small mud holes where the Pied-bill 

 often occurs. 



6. Pied-billed Grebe. DAB-CHICK, HELL-DIVER, WATER-WITCH. FR. LE GREBE A 

 EEC BIGARRE. Podilymbus podiceps. L, 13 '50. Plate I A. 



Distinctions. The Pied-bill can be separated from all other Canadian Grebes by its 

 relatively heavier and stouter bill with its spot and its more strongly arched cuhnen, and 

 from the juvenile Horned Grebe in any plumage, by its darker, less shiny foreneck, breast, 

 and underparts, and the absence of a white wing patch. 



Field Marks. Size and shape of bill, spot on bill, lack of white wing patch, and black 

 throat patch in spring. 



Nesting. Along the marshy edges of ponds and lakes on stationary or floating plat- 

 forms. 



Distribution. Across the continent, breeding from our southern borders northwards; 

 probably any grebe found nesting south of a line drawn between Ottawa and Sault Ste. 

 Marie will be of this species. 



This is the common breeding grebe of eastern Canada, where it is 

 found in the nesting season or during migration on nearly every pond or 

 slough. It frequents clear, open water less than its relatives. The diving 

 powers of the grebes are well known, and they are well developed in this 

 species. Diving at the flash of the gun it is often safe under water by the 

 time the shot reaches the spot it recently occupied. Even breech-loading 

 guns are not always quick enough to catch it, though the general use of 

 smokeless powder has put it at considerable disadvantage. The grebes 

 have the faculty of swimming either low or high in the water. By pressing 

 the air from the thick soft plumage and by compressing that in the body 

 cavities the grebe can increase its specific gravity, and gradually sink into 

 the water until only the bill is above the surface, in which position it will 

 hide and, barring accidents, escape the most prying eyes. 



Economic Status. We have little accurate information as to the 

 exact constituents of the food of the grebes. The Pied-bill, however, 

 probably lives upon small fish and aquatic insects, supplemented more 

 or less by vegetable matter. The fish, owing to the bird's habitat, are 

 mostly mud-frequenting species of little economic importance. The 

 insect content of its food probably consists largely of predaceous species 

 like large water beetles that occasionally do some damage to fish fry. 

 The vegetable matter is unimportant. On the whole, we can regard the 

 Pied-billed Grebe as absolutely harmless except in the rare cases when it 

 pays a passing visit to pools or ponds devoted to trout or other valuable 

 fish culture. 



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