43 



The bird, except in the west in the breeding season, is more commonly 

 seen on large bodies of water than small. It is comparatively scarce in 

 eastern Canada. 



3. Horned Grebe, fb. — le grebe cornu. Colymbus auritus. L, 13-50. The 

 Horned Grebe is about the same size as the Pied-billed Grebe mentioned next, but has a 

 much sharper and more slender bill. The summer adult has a red neck (much like 

 Holboell's), prominent ochraceous ear-tufts, and a full projecting ruff on the cheek from 

 hindhead to throat. In the autumn and winter a shining, black and white, head 

 contrasts with the duller coloration of the Pied-billed Grebe. 



Distinctions. The juvenile, a plain, greyish-black and white bird, may be mistaken 

 for the young Pied-billed Grebe, but can be distinguished by its shiny white forehead 

 and breast, slender bill, and white wing-patch. 



Field Marks. Slender, sharp bill, white foreneck and wing-patch. 



Nesting. Similar to the preceding. 



Distribution. Across the continent, breeding locally within the borders of present 

 settlement and northward, but more commonly west than east. 



The Horned Grebe on migration inhabits the larger bodies of water 

 and is less commonly seen in the small mud-holes where the Pied-bill often 

 occurs. 



6. Pied-billed Grebe, dab-chick, hell-diver, water-witch, fr. — le grebe a 

 bec bigarre. Podilymbus podiceps. L, 13 • 50. Plate I A. 



Distinctions. The Pied-bill can be separated from all other Canadian Grebes by its 

 relatively heavier and stouter bill with its spot and its more strongly arched culmen; and 

 from the juvenile Horned Grebe in any plumage, by its darker, less shiny foreneck, breast, 

 and underparts, and the absence of a white wing-patch. 



Field Marks. Size and shape of bill, spot on bill, lack of white wing-patch, and 

 black throat-patch in spring. 



Nesting. Along the marshy edges of ponds and lakes on stationary or floating plat- 

 forms. 



Distribution. Across the continent, breeding from our southern borders northwards: 

 any Grebe found nesting south of a line drawn between Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie will 

 be probably of this species. 



This is the common breeding Grebe of eastern Canada, where it is 

 found in the nesting season or during migration on nearly every pond and 

 slough. It frequents clear, open water less than do its relatives. The 

 diving powers of the Grebes are well known, and they are well developed in 

 this species. Diving at the flash of a gun the Grebe is often safe under water 

 by the time the shot reaches the spot recently occupied. Even breech- 

 loading guns are not always quick enough to catch it, though the general 

 use of smokeless powder has put it at considerable disadvantage. The 

 Grebes have the faculty of swimming either low or high in the water. By 

 pressing the air from the thick soft plumage and by compressing that in 

 the body cavities the Grebe can increase its specific gravity, and gradually 

 sink into the water until only the bill is above the surface, in which position 

 it will hide and, barring accidents, escape the most prying eyes. 



Economic Status. We have little accurate information as to what 

 constitutes the food of the Grebes. The Pied-bill, however, probably lives 

 upon small fish and aquatic insects, supplemented more or less by vegetable 

 matter. The fish, owing to the bird's habitat, are mostly mud-frequenting 

 species of little economic importance. The insect content of its food 

 probably consists largely of predaceous species like large water-beetles 

 that occasionally do some damage to fish fry. The vegetable matter is 

 unimportant. On the whole, we can regard the Pied-billed Grebe as 

 absolutely harmless except in the rare cases when it pays a passing visit 

 to pools or ponds devoted to the culture of trout or other valuable fish 

 28587—4 



