A DESCRIPTION OF 



-:the:- 



Birds of Ontario, 



BY 



Order PYGOPODES. Diving Birds. 



Suborder PODICIPEDES. Grebes and Loons. 



Family PODICIPID^. Grebes. 



Genus COLYMBUS Linn. 



Subgenus COLYMBUS. 



1 COLYMBUS HOLBOELLII (Reinh). 2 



Holboell's Grebe. 



Tarsus about four-fifths the middle toe and claw ; bill little shorter than 

 tarsus ; crests and ruff moderately developed. Length, about i8; wings, 7—8 , 

 bill, if to nearly 2; tarsus, 3 ; middle toe and claw, 2|. Adult: — Front and 

 sides of neck rich brownish-red ; throat and sidesof head ashy, whitening where 

 it joins the dark color of the crown, the feathers slightly ruffed ; top of head 

 with its slight occipital crest, upper-paits generally, and wings dark-brown 

 the feathers of the back paler edged ; primaries brown ; part of inner quills 

 white ; lower parts pale silvery-ash, the sides watered or obscurely mottled, 

 sometimes obviously speckled with dusky ; bill black, more or less yellow at 

 base. The young will be recognized by these last characters, joined with the 

 peculiar dimensions and proportions. 



Hab. North America at large, including Greenland. Also Eastern 

 Siberia, and southward to Japan. Breeds in high latitudes, migrating south 

 in winter. 



The eggs are said to be dull white, clouded with buff or pale green. 



