I'A.MILV ruDiciriD.E. 



Cl.ERES. 



i;^:^ 



The Honied Grebe is sometimes confouiKk'd with the Pied-I)iile(l Grebe 

 in winter dress, but the former species has a more pointed and slightly longer 

 bill and tarsus. Both this and the next species are known to gunners by 

 various names, among the most common being. Water Witch, Hell Diver, and 

 Die Dipper. 



No. 8. The Aiiu>ric;in E;iivd Grebe, C nigricoUis rallfnrninis, li:is Ik-cmi tiikcti in Illinois. 

 (^Bklgway.) 



Genus PODILYMBUS Lesson. 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn.) 



Pied=billed Grebe. Hell Diver. 



Sp. char. Adult in summer : Al)Ove, glossy 

 dark l)rovvn or brownish black; throat, black, 

 aud a black l)aud on the bill; front of neck 

 and sides of neck aud body, tinged with 

 pale brown ; belly, silverj^ white. 



Adult imdnter : Similar, but lacking the 

 black throat and without the black baud on 

 the bill ; lower bell}-, tinged with gray. 



Leni/th : 18.50; wing, 5; tarsus, 1.4.5; 

 bill, .90. 



Distribution : British Provinces, south- 

 ward to Brazil, Argentine Eepublic, aud Chili, 

 including West Indies aud Bermuda, breeding 

 nearly throughout its range (A. 0. U.) ; win- 

 ters from New Jersej^ southward. 



Xest and egys : The nest is composed of a 

 mass of floating vegetation or a mat of grass 

 on slightly submerged marshes. The eggs 

 are yellowish white oi- dirty white, usually 

 from three to eight, and measure about 1.70 

 xl.20. 



Family GAVIID/K. Loons. 



Restricted to five known species. Tlie toes are four, full webbed in front: the hind toe. 

 separate, with small flap or lobe; the tarsus is flattened. The legs are set far back, rendering 

 walking ditlicult. Their food consists jiriiicipally of fish, which they catch with gre.it dex- 

 teritj^, being expert swimmers aud divers. 



