142 LOONS 



1 reast, front and sides of neck, and sides of body, washed with brownish 

 and indistinctly mottled with blackish; lower breast and belly white; a 

 black band across bill. Ads. in winter and Im. Much like the above, but 

 throat white and no black band on bill. L., 13 '50; W., 5' 10; Tar., T45- 

 B., '85. 



Range. N. and S. A. Breeds from B. C., s. Mackenzie, s. Keewatin, 

 Que., and N. B., s. to Chile and Argentina, but often rare or local; winters 

 from Wash., Tex., Miss., and Potomac Valley southward. 



Washington, common W. V., Aug. 27- Apl. 24. Long Island, probably 

 P. R., rare, most common in Sept. Ossining, common T. V., Apl. 6-Apl. 20; 

 Sept. 3-Oct. 28; a few summer. Cambridge, T. V., common in fall, formerly 

 bred in one locality; Apl. 6-Nov. 10. N. Ohio, often common T. V., rare S. 

 R. Apl. 1-May 10; Sept. 1-Oct. 25. Glen Ellyn, not common S. R., Mch. 

 20-Nov. 4. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 2-Nov. 9. 



Nest, of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, sometimes built up from 

 the bottom in shallow water, sometimes floating among rushes in a slough, 

 when it is generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, 4-8, dull white, 

 more or less soiled or stained, l'74xl'19. Date, Cambridge, Apl. 23; Seneca 

 River Marshes, N. Y., June 3; Winnebago, 111., May 13; se. Minn., May 15. 



Any Grebe found breeding in the eastern United States will prob- 

 ably prove to be this species which, generally speaking, is the best known 

 of our Grebes. From the Eaed Grebe, with which it shares various 

 names indicative of its natatorial powers, it may be known by its brown 

 breast, and the absence of a white wing-patch. Its notes, as I have 

 heard them in the Montezuma marshes, are very loud and sonorous with 

 a cwckoolike quality, and may be written cow-cow-cow-cow-cow-cow- 

 cow-cow-cow-uh, cow-uh, cow-uh-cow-uh. These notes vary in number, 

 and are sometimes followed by prolonged wailing cows or uhs, almost 

 human in their expressiveness of pain and fear. This is apparently 

 the love song of the male in which his mate sometimes joins with a cuk- 

 cuk-cuk followed by a slower ughj ugh, unh. ("Bird Studies with a 

 Camera/' p. 70.) 



On Heron Lake, Minnesota, in early October, I have seen Pied- 

 billed Grebes in close-massed flocks, containing a hundred or more 

 birds, cruising about in open water. 



2. FAMILY GAVIID^J. LOONS. (Fig. 226.) 



A family containing only five species, inhabiting the northern half 

 of the Northern Hemj^ghere. The Loons are scarcely less aquatic than 

 the Grebes, and are their equals as divers and swimmers. When nest- 

 ing, they inhabit fresh-water lakes "and ponds, but during the winter 

 are maritime, often living fifty miles or more from land. They migrate 

 by day (and doubtless also by night), and are strong fliers. Being larger 

 than Ducks, and smaller or with shorter necks than Geese, they should 

 not be mistaken for either. They visit the land rarely, when their 

 clumsy progress is assisted by the use of bill and wings. The nest is 

 usually a mere depression on a mud-lump, or so near the shore that 

 the bird can slide quickly into and under the water, to come to the 

 surface some distance away. Two eggs are laid and the young are 



