86 WATER BIRDS 



These habits in the care of the young characterize all 

 species of grebes, for in no birds are the family traits 

 more prominent than among these queer divers. To the 

 shame of all plumage-hunters be it said, the love of the 

 grebes for their young is one cause of the rapid diminu- 

 tion of their number, for so expert are the grebes in div- 

 ing at the flash of the gun that, but for the mother love 

 which impels them to protect their helpless little ones, 

 they could easily escape. But they are mercilessly shot 

 while defending their nests, and the young are left to 

 starve, while the silvery breast of the mother bird adorns 

 the hat of a thoughtless woman. 



6. PIED-BILLED GRF^BK — Podilj/mbus podiceps. 



(Common names : Hell Diver ; Water Witch ; Dabchick.) 

 Family • The Grebes. 



Lengrth: 13.50. 



Adults in Summer : Upper parts glossy blackish brown ; sides of head 



and entire neck soft gray-brown ; throat black ; upper breast and 



sides of belly light gray-brown, indistinctly mottled with dusky ; 



belly and lower breast glossy white ; bill light, crossed by black 



band. 

 Winter Plumage : Throat changed from black to dull white ; head 



browner ; lower parts whiter, with no dusky spots ; white bill 



replaced by brown without black band. 

 Young: Similar to winter adults, but sides of head striped with brown. 

 Downy Young: Head and neck black and white with rufous spot on 



crown ; upper parts blackish, with stripes of white. 

 Geographical Distribution : The whole of North America from Mexico to 



Hudson Bay. 

 Breeding Range: Breeds locally throughout its habitat. 

 Breeding Season: Approximately, May 15 to July 1. 

 Nest : A more or less solid structure of mud, marsh grass, and wet weeds ; 



fastened to gi'owing plants. Sometimes built entirely up from the 



bottom of the slough, and sometimes laid on the rushes pulled orer 



