Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 277 



until the ice;,forms. i jWhere there is open water, both on Lake Michi- 

 gan and in the interior, many remain all winter." (Birds of Wiscon- 

 sin, 1903, p. 5.) 



3. Colymbus auritus Linn. 

 Horned Grebe. 

 Distr.: Northern Hemisphere, breeding from the northern United 

 States northward. 



Adult in summer: Bill, deeper than wide at base; top of head, 

 back of neck and throat, greenish black; lores, pale chestnut brown; 



a tuft of ochraceous feathers on sides of 

 head behind the eye; front of neck and 

 breast, chestnut brown; sides of body, 

 chestnut brown; belly, white. 



Adult in winter, and im.m,ature: Upper 

 parts, blackish or grayish black; under 

 parts, silvery white, often tinged with 

 gray on throat and breast ; no developed 

 tufts behind the eye. 



Length, about 14 inches (12.60 to ij); 

 wing, about 5.70; bill, about .90. 



The Horned Grebe is apparently not 

 uncommon at times in Illinois and 

 Colymbus auritus. Wisconsin during the migrations, and a 



(Breeding plumage.) ^ *^ 



few remain to breed. It arrives from 

 the south in April and breeds in May and June. 



"Occurs commonly during the migrations — breeds sparingly in 

 the small lakes." (Nelson, Birds N. E. 111., 1876, p. 150.) "Still 

 fairly common as a spring and autumn migrant ; not infrequently 

 nests in the northern part of the state as it formerly did even in the 

 southern tier of counties. Young, a few days old, were procured at 

 Lake Koshkonong during June, 1880." (Kumlien and Hollister, 

 Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 5. ) 



The nest of the Horned Grebe is a mass of weeds in shallow water, 

 sometimes floating attached to reeds, and again placed on a nearly 

 submerged tussock. The eggs are usually 4 to 7, dull white, more or 

 less stained with brown. They measure about 1.75 x 1.15 inches. 



4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Heerm.). 

 American Eared Grebe. 

 Distr.: Northern and western North America, from the Missis- 

 sippi Valley west to the Pacific, south to Central America (Guatemala). 



