106 The Loons and Grebes 



more than six inches in length, are the three species of the genus Lophathyia, one 

 of which, the Great Crested Grebe (L. cristate), is of nearly cosmopolitan distri- 

 bution, ranging from Europe and northern Asia to Africa, Australia, and New 

 Zealand. It is the largest member of the group, being from twenty-two to twenty- 

 four inches long, and during the breeding season at least is ornamented with a 

 very prominent black-tipped frill, as well as by a pair of long, glossy black tufts 

 or "horns" on the top of the head. The upper parts are dark brown and the 

 under parts silky white quite to the bases of the feathers. "Among our large 

 water birds," says Hudson, "there are few more strikingly handsome than this 

 Grebe in its full breeding plumage, when viewed as it floats, unalarmed, in the 

 secluded reed-fringed water it loves." Much smaller than this, and confined to 

 the northern parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, is the Red-necked Grebe (L. 

 griseigena], while the third species, known as HolbcelFs Grebe (L. holboellii), is 

 found in North America, including Greenland and eastern Asia, breeding usually 

 far northward. It is about nineteen inches long, blackish above, glossy on the 

 top of the head and back of the neck, rufous on the front and sides of the neck, 

 and silvery white on the throat, sides of the head, and under parts. 



Pied-billed Grebe. Passing over the genus ^Echmophorus, which embraces 

 a single New World form, we come to the final genus, which contains only the 

 Pied-billed Grebe, Helldiver, or Water- witch (Podilymbus podiceps), as it is 

 variously called. It is distinguished from the others by the very stout bill, in 

 which the length is less than twice the depth at the base. About fourteen inches 

 long, it is brownish above and silvery white beneath, becoming in the breeding 

 season black on chin and throat, and spotted with dusky below, while the bill 

 is whitish, crossed near the middle by a black band. During winter the black 

 on the throat is replaced by dull white, the lower parts are without the dusky 

 spots, and the bill without the black band. This bird, probably the commonest 

 and best known of our Grebes, is found throughout the whole of North and South 

 America except in the extreme northern and southern districts. Its various 

 common names are a sufficient indication of its most salient characteristics. 



