Genus PODILYMBUS Lesson. 

 PODILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn.). 



4. Pied-billed Grebe. (6) 



Length, 12 to 14; wing, alimit .3; Ijill, 1 or less; tarsns. U. Ailiill : — Bill 

 Ijluish, dnsky on the ridge, encircled with a black bar ; throat with a long black 

 patch; upper parts Uackish-brown ; piiniaries ashy-brown; secondaries asli_v 

 and white ; lower parts silky wliite, nioi'e r>r less mottled (n' obscured with 

 dusky; the lower neck in front, fore breast and sides, washed with rust}'. 

 Young lacking the throat-patch and jjeculiar marks of the l^ill, otherwise not 

 particularly different ; in a very early plirmage with the head curiously striped. 



Hae. — British Provinces southward to Brazil, Buenos Ayres and Chili, 

 including West Indies and the Bennudas, breeiling nearly throughout its range. 



Nest, a little floating islanil of withered i-eeds and rushes mixed with mud, 

 fastened to the aquatic plants, raised two or thi-ce indies al)ove water. 



Eggs, five to seven, whitisli, (douded with green. 



The DaVj Chick is not <|uite so iiumen^us as tiie Horned Gre})p, 

 neither is it so hardy, beino- a little later in arriving in spring, and 

 disappearing in the fall at the first touch fit' frost. It is generally 

 <listriV)uted, anfl is the only one of the family which V)i-eeds in Hamil- 

 ton Ba}', where it may often lie seen in the inlets in summer accfini- 

 panied by its young with their curiously striped necks. Fi'om its 

 small size and confiding manners it is not much disturlied, but if 

 alarmed it has a convenient habit f)f sinking iiuietly under water, not 

 to reappear till danger is past. 



