holbcell's grebe. 385 



\ 



the breeding-season, delighting in the seclusion of the desolate 

 wilderness, penetrating in the present continent as far as the 

 remote inland shores of Great Slave Lake, where individuals 

 were observed by Captain Franklin's adventurous party in the 

 month of May. In the course of the winter these birds pro- 

 ceed to the South, probably as far as Florida, but are rarely seen 

 in the United States. At this season they frequent lakes and 

 the estuaries or rivers in the vicinity of the sea, but at other 

 times are seen more abimdantly on fresh waters. They are 

 common in the eastern parts of Europe, and frequently visit 

 Great Britain, Germany, and Switzerland. Their food, as usual, 

 is small fish, fry, reptiles, coleopterous insects, and vegetables. 

 The nest is similar to that of the preceding species ; the eggs 

 number three or four, of a whitish green, and appearing as if 

 soiled with yellowish or brown. 



The Red-necked Grebe breeds from about latitude 45° to the 

 higher fur countries, but is rather uncommon in New England and 

 the adjacent provinces, where it occurs chiefly as a winter visitor. 

 It is quite abundant in Manitoba. 



In common with others of the family, this Grebe is an expert 

 diver. Often it will sink into the water without any apparent effort, 

 though more generally it jumps forward, throwing the head into the 

 water, and the body into the air. It is an expert and rapid swimmer 

 also, and all its movements on the water are extremely graceful. 

 When pursued, these birds invariably endeavor to escape by diving, 

 though when on the wing they fly rapidly, their necks and feet 

 stretched at full length. 



It is said that the female takes the newly hatched young upon 

 her back, and swims with them in that position, feeding them, while 

 eating her own meal, on portions of the fish and vegetable matter 

 which she gathers. 



VOL. n. — 25 



