FAMILY PODICIPID.E. 



•GKEBES. 



133 



The Horned Grebe is sometimes confounded with the Pied-billed Grebe 

 in winter dress, but the former species has a n)ore pointed and slightly longer 

 bill and tarsus. Both this and the next species are known to gunners by 

 various names, among the most common being. Water Witch, Hell Diver, and 

 Die Dipper. 



No. 3. The American Eared Grebe, C. nirji-icoJUs ca! ifornims, hns been tnkpii jii Illinois. 

 (^Bidgway.) 



Genus PODILYMBUS Lesson. 



PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn). 



Pied^billed Grebe. Hell Diver. 



Sp. char. Adult in summer : A1)0VP, glossy 

 darlc Ijrown or l)rowMish lihick; tliroal., l)lacl<, 

 and a black l)and on the bill; front, of neck 

 and sides of neelc and liody, tinged witli 

 pale brown; liellj', silvery white. 



Adnlt in winter : Similar, l)ut lacking the 

 Ijlaclc tliroat and without tlie black band on 

 the liill ; lower l)ell}', tinged with gray. 



LpiKjlh : 13.50; wing, 5; tarsus, 1.4.t; 



bill, .no. 



DMrilmtion : British Provinces, south- 

 ward to Brazil. Argentine Eepuljlic, and(;hili, 

 including West Indies and Bermuda, lu-eeding 

 nearly throughout its range (^A. 0. U.)\ win- 

 ters from New Jersey soutliward. 



Nest and eggs : Tlie nest is composed of a 

 mass of floating vegetation or a mat of grass 

 on slightly submerged mar.shes. The eggs 

 are j^ellowish white or dirty white, usually 

 from three to eight, and measure about 1.70 

 xl.20. 



Faiwily GAVIID/E, Loons. 



Kestricted to five known species. Tlic toes are foui-, full \vebl)ed in front; the hind toe, 

 separate, witli small flap or lol)e; the tarsus is flattened. Tlic legs are set far back, rendering- 

 walking difficult. Their food consists principally of fish, which they catcli witli grent dex- 

 terity, being expert swimmers and divers. 



