42 
Economic Status. The Diving Birds feed almost entirely upon aquatic 
life usually captured by diving and pursuit under water. Economically, 
they are of slight importance. The Canadian representatives of this order 
are divided into three families: the Grebes, Colymbide; the Loons, Gaviide; 
the Auks, Murres, etc., Alcide. 
FAMILY—-COLYMBIDA. GREBES. 
General Description. Grebes and Divers with feet lobed and not fully webbed, and 
without perceptible tails. Instead of full webs extending from toe to toe, as in most 
swimming birds, the digits are provided with a scalloped edging of flat lobe-like flaps or 
processes hinged to the toe. These make excellent paddles during the stroke, and folding 
away, offer the minimum of resistance to the water on the return. Their wonderful diving 
ability has given these birds the common sobriquets of Hell-diver, Water-witch, etc. 
Distinctions. Scalloped toe webs (Figure 13, p. . .), short tail, sharp pointed bill, and 
the peculiar silvery sheen of the feathers of the underparts. 
Field Marks. Pointed bill and inconspicuous tail. Feet carried straight out behind 
when flying. 
Nesting. In the reeds or rushes bordering sloughs or ponds, on either floating or 
stationary vegetable heaps. 
Distribution. Grebes are distributed over the whole of Canada, and north well into 
the Arctic zone. In the breeding season they are generally more common on fresh than 
on salt water. There are three species of this family occurring regularly in eastern Canada; 
a fourth species, the Western Grebe, not further mentioned here, has been incorrectly 
recorded several times, and only one case of its occurrence can be substantiated. 
Grebes are typically inhabitants of fresh ponds and lakes, though at 
times they frequent the sea in numbers. The adults are coloured in rather 
broad masses; the young show sharp stripes, especially about the head, 
indicating that the family has descended from a common striped ancestor. 
The grebe breasts, so much used for trimming and millinery purposes, are 
procured from birds of this family. The sacrifice of large numbers for this 
purpose and the drainage of many of their natural breeding grounds are 
continually reducing their numbers. 
Economic Status. Feeding almost entirely upon water-inhabiting 
creatures they are of little direct economic importance. Considerable 
masses of feathers are often found in grebe stomachs, but no satisfactory 
explanation of their presence there has been offered. There is no evidence 
that they are remains of birds preyed upon. 
2. Holbeell’s Grebe. RED-NECKED GREBE. FR.—LE GREBE A COU ROUGE. Colymbus 
cent L. 19. This is the largest of our Grebes. Summer adults have a rich chestnut- 
red neck. 
Distinctions. Size is usually sufficient to distinguish this Grebe. Juvenile birds gener- 
ally have only a suggestion of the rufous neck. 
Field Marks. Size will also separate it in the field from other Grebes; and the pre- 
sence of a white wing patch and an unmottled back, from the Red-throated Loon with which 
it might be confused. 
Nesting. On floating or stationary vegetable compost or marsby islands near the 
shores of freshwater lakes. 
Distribution. Across the continent; breeding in the east, north of present settlement. 
He the prairie provinces and west it nests southwards to and across the United States 
order. : 
The bird, except in the west in the breeding season, is more commonly 
seen on large bodies of water than small. It is comparatively scarce in 
eastern Canada. 
