Birds of Floyd County, Iowa 131 



done the rest for the water-birds, and most game birds. The 

 cover has been cut away, and now, though we have a con- 

 siderable number of species, their numbers are greatly de- 

 pleted, while many formerly abundant ones have disappeared 

 entirely from the county. 



LIST OP SPECIES AND SUB-SPECIES. 



1. Colym'bus holicelU — HolbceH* s Grebe. In 1862 this species 

 was quite common in Floyd county, nesting near Charles City 

 (M. A. Dalton). It is now rare, evn as a migrant. Flock of six 

 seen in an adjoining county March 24th, 1916, by Mr. C. L. Webster. 

 I saw a single specimen May 26th, 1916, within the limits of 

 Charles City, but could not distinguish sex. 



2. Colymhus auritus. — Horned Grebe. Up to 1880 this species 

 was common. Webster, in 1897, mentions it as uncommon. I saw 

 one specimen on September 21st, 1915. Mr. J. H. Wadell reports 

 a pair as having nested near Floyd in 1913, the latest and only 

 nesting record for many years. 



3. Podilymbus podiceps — Pied-billed Grebe. Formerly very 

 common, often nesting in swamps near Charles City, and along 

 the Cedar and Shell Rock rivers. Even now it is fairly common, 

 nesting regularly within the county. In 1915 a pair nested well 

 within the limits of Charles City. 



4. Gavia immer—hoon.. Formerly common, regularly nesting 

 within the county. Webster, in 1897, states that they were rarely 

 found nesting, and it has now disappeared, except as a rare mi- 

 grant. Last observation, March 23, 1916; W. T. Swartz. 



5. Gavia arctica — Black-throated Loon. This species disap- 

 peared previous to 1897. Up to 1870, according to Mr. John R. 

 Waller, it was a fairly common migrant, but after that de- 

 creased very rapidly. I have no late data. 



6. Larus argentatus — Herring Gull. This species has never 

 been common, as there are no large lakes to attract it. My 

 last date for the species is March 12, 1916, in a Charles City park. 



7. Larus franklini — Franklin's Gull, has been seen occasionally. 

 What I think to be the latest reliable record is April, 1898, W. C. 

 Miles. 



8. HydrocTielidon nigra surinamensis — Black Tern. I have but 

 one record; Nora Springs, March 28th, 1916. 



9. Pelecanus erythrorJiynchos — White Pelican. This species 

 was formerly fairly common. The High School Museum at 

 Charles City possesses a specimen taken in 1890. I think that this 

 is the latest record for the county. 



