430 HORNED GREBE. 



the winter plumage beginning to appear. Here I may remark, that Grebes 

 in' general do not moult so early as most other birds after they have young; 

 thus the Crested Grebe often passes to the south in September, with its 

 head still adorned with a large portion of the feathers of its spring and 

 sunmier tippet. While residing at different places on the Ohio, I have 

 many times witnessed the passage of the Horned and the Crested. 



The Horned Grebe is abundant during autumn and winter on the 

 large rivers or inlets of the Southern States, but rare along the coasts of 

 the Middle and Eastern Districts. On the rivers about Charleston in 

 South Carolina it is seen at those seasons in considerable numbers, al- 

 though not in larger flocks than from four to seven individuals. The 

 same is observable from that place to the mouths of the Mississippi. It 

 is particularly fond of those streams of which the borders are overgrown 

 by rank sedges and other plants, and are subject to the influx of the tide. 

 In such places they enjoy greater security while searching for their food, 

 than in ponds, to which, however, they for the most part retire at the ap- 

 proach of the pairing season, which commences early in Febi'uary. At 

 that time one might be apt to think that these birds could scarcely fly, as 

 they are then rarely seen on wing ; but when they are pursued, and there 

 happens to be a breeze, they rise from the water with considerable ease, 

 and fly to a distance of several hundred yards. In December and January 

 I have never procured any having the least remains of their summer head- 

 dress ; but by the 10th of March, when they were on their journey to- 

 wards the north, the long feathers of the head were apparent. These 

 tufts seem to attain their full development in the course of a fortnight or 

 three weeks, the old birds becoming plumed sooner than the young, some 

 of which leave the country in their winter dress. 



On the ground, this species is not better off than the Dobchick, it be- 

 ing obliged to stand nearly ei-ect, the hind part of the body resting, and 

 the tarsi and toes extended laterally. They dive with great celerity, and 

 when once acquainted with the effects of the gun, are not easily shot. A 

 report is at times sufficient to make the old birds dive at once, although 

 they may be quite beyond the reach of a shot. The young birds are 

 more easily procured at their first appearance ; but the most efficient me- 

 thod of obtaining them is to employ fishing nets, in the meshes of which 

 they become entangled. 



Excepting a species of Hawk nearly allied to Circus cyaneus, I know 

 of no other bird that has the eye of such colour, the iris being externally 



