SWIMMING BIRDS. Grebes 



Smaller than the Great Diver, having a reddish brown 

 throat patch as a mark of identification, which, however, is 

 lacking in the young of the year. This Red-throated Loon 

 is the species most usually seen here, but it is neither a par- 

 ticularly handsome or conspicuous bird. 



FAMILY PODICIPID^: GREBES. 

 Horned Grebe : Colymbus auritus. 



Length : 14 inches. 



Male and Female : In spring, prominent crests forming two yellow- 

 brown horns ; rest of head puffy and glossy black. Above dark 

 brown, with edgings of gray and black. Neck, upper breast, 

 and sides rusty brown ; some white on wings. Young without 

 horns ; neck and lower parts whitish. Bill black, with yellow 

 tip. 



Season . A winter resident, and a plentiful migrant in spring and fall. 



Breeds : North from the northern United States. 



Nest and Eggs : The buffy white eggs are deposited on decayed reed- 

 beds, and sometimes on floating masses of reeds. 



Bange : Northern Hemisphere. 



These curiously constructed birds are expert swimmers, 

 but very helpless on land. They have no tails to speak 

 of, and in the breeding-season wear variously feathered 

 head-dresses which give them a ludicrous appearance, and 

 make them veritable caricatures. But if you presume upon 

 this apparent stupidity, and try to approach them, you will 

 be very much surprised at the speed with which they slip 

 from the shore and dive out of sight ; not with a splash, 

 but sinking like lead, and escaping by swimming under 

 water, with the head alone visible. When inhabiting the 

 coast the Grebes live upon fish, but when inland they sub- 

 sist upon fresh-water newts, frogs, insects, and sometimes 

 the seeds of grasses. 



277 



