140 GREBES 



sight on the open waters of the lake. They nest in colonies often con- 

 taining hundreds of pairs, and I have known them voluntarily to spend 

 much time away from their nests, leaving the eggs uncovered. I have 

 also seen the bird while standing nearly erect in the nest place some 

 covering over the eggs before sliding into the water at my approach. 

 Thousands of these birds have been killed for their breasts by millinery 

 collectors. 



1902. JOB, H. K., Among the Water-Fowl, 15-28. 1908. CHAPMAN, 

 F. M., Camps and Cruises, 302, 330, 348. 



2. Colymbus holboellii (Reinh.). HOLBCELL'S GREBE. Ads. in sum- 

 mer. Top of head, small crest, and back of neck, glossy black ; back 

 blackish; throat and sides of head silvery white; front and sides of neck 

 rufous, changing gradually over breast into the silvery white belly; sides 

 tinged with rufous. Ads. in winter. Upperparts blackish brown; throat 

 and underparts whitish; front and sides of neck pale rufous. Im. Upper- 

 parts blackish; throat and underparts silvery white; neck and sides grayish. 

 L., 19-00; W., 7-50; Tar., 2'20; B., 1'90. 



Range. N. N. A. and e. Asia. Breeds from nw. Alaska, n. Mackenzie, 

 and n. Ungava s. to n. Wash., n. Mont., and sw. Minn.; winters from s. 

 B. C., s. Wise., s. Ont., and Maine s. to s. Calif., s. Colo., the Ohio Valley, 

 and N. C.; casual in Ga. and Greenland. 



Washington, uncommon W. V., Sept. 30-Mch. or Apl. Long Island, W. 

 V., Nov. 11-Apl. 7. Ossining, rare T. V., Oct.-Dec. Cambridge, rare T. V. 

 and W. V. N. Ohio, occasional in winter. 



Nest, of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, an island or floating among 

 rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, 3-8, dull 

 white, more or less soiled, 2'25 x 1'35. Date, Grant Co., Minn., May 28. 



Although this large Grebe breeds in reed-grown lake borders, at 

 other seasons it frequents large bodies of open water, and in winter 

 resorts to the sea, where I have seen it fifty miles from land. So far as 

 my experience goes it thoroughly covers its eggs, even when frightened 

 from the nest, and although making every effort to avoid being seen, 

 remains near its home, uttering a sharp explosive cluck of protest. 

 Brewster describes its call as deliberately uttered and exceedingly 

 loud and harsh, not unlike the voice of an angry Crow, but with much 

 greater volume. 



1903. SIM, R. J., Wilson Bull., 67-74, (habits in captivity). 



3. Colymbus auritus Linn. HORNED GREBB. Ads. in summer. 

 Top of head, hindneck, and throat, glossy blackish; lores pale chestnut; 

 stripe, and plumes behind eye, buffy ochraceous, deeper posteriorly; back 

 and wings blackish; secondaries white; foreneck, upper breast and sides 

 chestnut; lower breast and belly white. Ads. in winter and Im. Upper- 

 parts grayish black; underparts silvery white, sometimes washed with 

 grayish on the throat and breast; white of cheeks nearly meeting on hind- 

 neck. L., 13'50; W., 5-40; Tar., 1'75; B., '90. 



Remarks. Differs from P. poa^ceps, in more pointed bill, more white 

 in wing, and, in winter, has no brown below. 



Range. N. part of N. Hemisphere. Breeds from the lower Yukon, n. 

 Mackenzie, cen. Keewatin, sw. Ungava, and Magdalen Islands, s. to s. B. 

 C., n. Utah, n. Nebr., cen. Minn., s. Ont., and ne. Maine; winters from s. 

 B. C., s. Ont., and Maine s. to s. Calif., the Gulf coast, and Fla.; casual in 

 Greenland. 



