GREBES 141 
Washington, common W. V., Aug. 20-Apl. 28. Long Island, common 
W. V., Oct. 15-May 15. Ossining, common T. V., Oct.—Dec.; Mch. Cam- 
bridge, T. V. uncommon in fall, very rare in spring. N. Ohio, not common 
T. V., Apl. 4-May 6; Oct. 1-Nov. 25; occasional in winter. Glen Ellyn, 
rare, Mch. 31-Sept. 6. SE. Minn., common T. V. Apl. 13. 
Nest, of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, an island or raft-floating 
among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, 2-7, 
dull white, more or less soiled, 1°74 x 1°15. Date, Grant Co., Minn., May 28. 
This species and the next are probably frequently mistaken for each 
other in life, and the same common names are in some instances appli- 
cable to both. In breeding costume it is easily identifiable, but in the 
winter it isa grayish bird. In flight the white margin to its secondaries is 
clearly displayed. It then suggests a Gallinule, but is smaller and paler. 
Ernest Seton writes of a captive individual: ‘When ordinarily swim- 
ming, the feet strike out alternately, and the progression is steady; but 
sometimes both feet struck together, and then the movement was by 
great bounds, and was evidently calculated to force the bird over an 
expanse of very weedy water, or through any tangle of weeds or rushes 
in which it might have found itself. When lifted out of the water, the 
feet worked so fast as to be lost to the eye in a mere haze of many 
shadowy feet with one attachment. When placed on the ground, it 
was perfectly helpless.” (‘‘Birds of Manitoba,” p. 466.) H. K. Job 
writes of a pair of Horned Grebes which alighted in a brook and could 
not fly out “because with their small wings they require a lot of room to 
flutter and patter over the water in getting started.” (‘Sport of Bird 
Study,” p. 272.) The same author writes of the notes of this species as 
“a, quick chatter ending with several prolonged notes I can only describe 
as yells.” (“Among the Water-Fowl,”’ p. 33.) 
4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Heerm.). Earrp GREBE. 
Smaller than C. auritus, bill wider than high at base; adult blacker above, 
foreneck black, not chestnut; in winter, cheeks grayer. L., 12°50; W., 5°20; 
1°70; B., 80. 
Range.—W. N. A. Breeds from cen. B. C., Great Slave Lake, and 
Man. s. tos. Calif., n. Ariz., n. Nebr., and n. lowa.; winters from, cen. 
Calif. to Cape San Lucas and Guatemala; e. to Kans. in migration; casual 
in Mo., Ind., and Ont. . 
Nest, in colonies, of water-soaked vegetation, an island or floating raft, 
when usually attached. Eggs, 3-9, dull white more or less soiled, 1°73 1°19. 
Date, Meckling, N. D., May 27. 
The Eared Grebe barely comes within our limits. It nests in colonies 
often containing hundreds of birds. They cover their eggs, even when 
frightened from the nest, and Job observed some slipping back to com- 
plete the work. Eggs from which Job removed the covering placed on 
them by the bird, were soon eaten by a Franklin’s Gull, evidence that 
the birds cover their egg to prevent their being seen. Experience on 
Crane Lake, Saskatchewan, suggests that the call of this bird resem- 
bles that of the Pied-billed Grebe. 
6. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.). Prrp-BILLep GREBE. (Fig. 22a.) 
Ads. in summer.—Upperparts glossy, brownish black; throat black; upper 
