SHORT-WINGED BIRDS. 113 
ORDER PYGOPODES. SHORT-WINGED BIRDS. 
Tuer four families which are comprehended in this group are distributed 
throughout all portions of the globe. Our limits will not permit us to 
review them in detail, and we will glance at but few of the most interesting. 
Fammty Popiciripze. THE Grebes. 
These birds are found in salt as well as fresh-water rivers, are excellent 
swimmers, and dive frequently. They feed on small fishes, frogs, crusta- 
ceans, and insects, and their nests, formed of a large quantity of grass and 
weeds, are generally placed among reeds and carices, and rise and fall with 
the water. The plumage is very soft, and, on the under surface, silky : 
they are remarkably active on the water, and when alarmed remain below 
the surface, exposing only the bill. 
The following account of the habits of the Red-billed Grebe (Podylim- 
bus podiceps), is sent us by a friend in Wisconsin: “ This bird breeds abun- 
dantly in Pewaukee Lake, and, I presume, throughout Wisconsin. It 
nests about the middle of May, in rushes of the former year’s growth, and 
in water from one to two fect deep. In such situations, the old rushes, that 
have fallen down into the water, are pulled together, and continually piled 
upon each other, until the fabric rises above the water; the nest is then 
formed of moss and weeds gathered from the bottom. It is raised but 
little, and is always wet, except when the water has fallen, and left the nest 
higher than it was originally built. It appears like a circular mass of weeds 
and moss floating on the water, or, when filled with eggs, carefully covered, 
like a floating ball; but it does not really float, as the foundation rests more 
or less upon the bottom. By pressing on the nest with the hand, it can 
generally be easily sunk. The eggs (four or five in number) are white at 
first, but soon get stained by contact with the wet nest. When left, they 
are carefully covered by the bird. It is surprising how quick and effectu- 
ally the eggs are covered if the nest is approached, the bird always getting 
away without being seen. I have examined more than twenty nests this 
summer, both with and without eggs; in some cases, on examining the 
bottom, near the empty nests, I was able to find the eggs that had rolled 
out and sunk. All of the nests were alike (always in one or two feet of 
water), and constructed of rushes (the foundation), never of grass, weeds, 
or flag, which were as plenty, and would seem equally as appropriate mate- 
rials. The bird is very shy during the breeding season, keeping out of sight 
among the weeds and rushes.” 
