132 



THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



COLYMBUS HOLBOELLII (Reinh.). 

 hlolboell's Qrebe. 



har. Summer: Crown, uape, and back of the ueek, black; back, dull black or 

 lilackish; throat, belly, aud sides of the head, silvery white; front 

 and sides of neck, rufous brown, gradually shading lighter ou breast; 

 sides of body, more or less rufous. 



Aihilt in wititur : Upper plumage, sooty brown; throat and under- 

 parts, silvery white; neck, more or less tinged with rufous. Immature 

 birds have the throat and sides tinged with gray. 



Length, 18 to 20; wing, 7.60; tarsus, 2.15; bill, 1.80 to 2. 

 Distribution : North America at large, including Greenland {A. O.U.) : 

 south in winter to North Carolina and Middle States of the interior ; 

 breeds from Minnesota and Dakota northwards. 



Xeat and er/r/s : The nest is usually composed of grass and i-eeds, 

 often floating. The eggs are soiled white or pale greenish white, from three to Ave in number, 

 and measure 2.20 x 1..3.5. 



Holboell's Grebe is the largest of the family in Eastern North America. 

 It is not uncommon on the Atlantic coast during the winter months. Like 

 others of its family it is an expert diver, and rarely takes wing when pursued, 

 usually disappearing beneath the water with an ease and quickness which has 

 won for it the sobricjuet of Hell Diver. When frightened it often swims under' 

 water with only a small portion of the head and bill exposed. 



.Sui'.GENUs DYTES Kaup. 



COLYMBUS AURITUS Lhm. 



Horned Qrebe. Water Witch. 



Adult in snminer : Upper parts, including back, wings, top 

 of the head and back of the neck, glossy blacl;^ ; throat, Idack ; 

 front of the neck, breast, and sides of the liody, rufous chest- 

 nut; rest of underparts, white ; wings, dusky l)lack; secon- 

 daries, white; lores, dull chestnut; the two small tufts of 

 feathei-s at the sides of the occiput, brownish buff. 



Adult in viinter and immature : Head and back, grayish ; 

 underpai'ts, white, usually tinged with gray on the breast aud 

 lower throat; no tufts on sides of the head in winter plnmage. 



Length: 13.40; wing, 5.40; tarsus, 1.70; bill, .85 to .95. 



Distribution: Northern Hemisphere, breeding from the 

 United States northward {A. 0. f/".), migrating south iu 

 winter to Florida and the Gulf States. 



Nest and eggs: The nest is a mass of floating grass or • 



weeds or a mat of grass on a partly submerged marsh; the 



eggs are four to seven, dull white or yellowish white, or soiled brownish white, and measure 

 1.75 X 1.15. 



