BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 5 
Old-town, San Diego. Although the eggs have often been 
found on the Pacific coast, none have ever come to my notice 
here. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Upper part of head and nape of neck, fuliginous black; back 
and wing-coverts grayish-black, the feathers margined with 
gray; primaries light, ashy-brown, darker at the end and 
white at the base; secondaries white, marked with ash on the 
outer webs (occasionally white); space between the bill and 
eye gray; throat, sides of neck, and entire under plumage, 
silver-white; sides marked with grayish-black; bill dusky, or 
nearly black, except the cutting edges and end, which are 
yellow; iris orange; tarsi and feet grayish-black externally, 
flesh color, internally. 
Length, 28; wing, 8; bill, 3; tarsus, 3. 
Habitat, Western North America, eastward to Manitoba. 
COLYMBUS HOLBELLIT (REINHART). (2.) 
RED-NECKED GREBE. 
It is my pleasure to say that I am indebted to Mr. J. N. San- 
ford, of Elbow Lake, in Grant county, for my first knowledge 
of the presence of this species of the Grebe family in the state, 
and accompanying the information so much esteemed, he sent 
through me to the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences 
four eggs in prime condition for preservation, which he had 
obtained in his vicinity in July, 1880. These eggs measured 
1.95 by 1.28: 2.00 by 1.25: 1.85 by 1.15. and 1.90 by 1.20. The 
color when so fresh was a rather pale, greenish-white and was 
uniform. The nest was described as being near to the water, 
and consisting of coarse, rank marsh weeds, placed on a bunch 
of the same materials in a marshy locality. He has been a 
close observer of the water birds especially, and has contributed 
some interesting and valuable facts respecting the breeding 
habits of several species found in his section. Since those 
days my opportunities for learning more of the local habits of 
the species have been good. Without being abundant any- 
where in Minnesota, it is nevertheless not to be accounted rare, 
for its species in the sparsely settled districts characterized by 
wet, pondy prairies. I have found it in my own county at such 
times as to make it reasonably certain that it breeds in such 
localities as are largely secluded, and embracing ponds and 
small lakes bordered by reedy marshes. I find individuals of 
this species in Fillmore, Carver, Otter Tail and Grant counties, 
