GREBES 141 



Washington, common W. V., Aug. 20-Apl. 28. Long Island, common 

 W. V., OcL 15-May 15. Ossining, common T. V., Oct.-Dec.; Mch. Cam- 

 bridge, T. V. uncommon in fall, very rare in spring. N. Ohio, not common 

 T. V., Apl. 4-May 6; Oct. 1-Nov. 25; occasional in winter. Glen Ellyn, 

 rare, Mch. 31-Sept. 6. SE. Minn., common T. V. Apl. 13. 



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

 among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, 2-7, 

 dull white, more or less soiled, 1'74 x 1'15. Date, Grant Co., Minn., May 28. 



This species and the next are probably frequently mistaken for each 

 other in life, and the same common names are in some instances appli- 

 cable to both. In breeding costume it is easily identifiable, but in the 

 winter it is a grayish bird. In flight the white margin to its secondaries is 

 clearly displayed. It then suggests a Gallinule, but is smaller and paler. 

 Ernest Seton writes of a captive individual: "When ordinarily swim- 

 ming, the feet strike out alternately, and the progression is steady; but 

 sometimes both feet struck together, and then the movement was by 

 great bounds, and was evidently calculated to force the bird over an 

 expanse of very weedy water, or through any tangle of weeds or rushes 

 in which it might have found itself. When lifted out of the water, the 

 feet worked so fast as to be lost to the. eye in a mere haze of many 

 shadowy feet with one attachment. When placed on the ground, it 

 was perfectly helpless." ("Birds of Manitoba," p. 466.) H. K. Job 

 writes of a pair of Horned Grebes which alighted in a brook and could 

 not fly out "because with their small wings they require a lot of room to 

 flutter and patter over the water in getting started." ("Sport of Bird 

 Study," p. 272.) The same author writes of the notes of this species as 

 "a quick chatter ending with several prolonged notes I can only describe 

 as yells." ("Among the Water-Fowl," p. 33.) 



4. Colymbus nigricollis calif ornicus (Heerm.). EARED GREBE. 

 Smaller than C. auritus, bill wider than high at base; adult blacker above, 

 foreneck black, not chestnut; in winter, cheeks grayer. L., 12*50; W., '20; 

 1-70; B., '80. 



Range. W. N. A. Breeds from cen. B. C., Great Slave Lake, and 

 Man. s. to s. Calif., n. Ariz., n. Nebr., and n. Iowa.; winters from cen. 

 Calif, to Cape San Lucas and Guatemala; e. to Kans. in migration; casual 

 in Mo., Ind., and Ont. 



Nest, in colonies, of water-soaked vegetation, an island or floating raft, 

 when usually attached. Eggs, 3-9, dull white more or less soiled, 1'73 x 1*19. 

 Date, Meckling, N. D., May 27. 



The Eared Grebe barely comes within our limits. It nests in colonies 

 often containing hundreds of birds. They cover their eggs, even when 

 frightened from the nest, and Job observed some slipping back to com- 

 plete the work. Eggs from which Job removed the covering placed on 

 them by the bird, were soon eaten by a Franklin's Gull, evidence that 

 the birds cover their egg to prevent their being seen. Experience on 

 Crane Lake, Saskatchewan, suggests that the call of this bird resem- 

 bles that of the Pied-billed Grebe. 



6. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.). PIED-BILLED GREBE. (Fig. 22a.) 

 Ads. in summer. Upperparts glossy, brownish black; throat black; upper 



