Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 499 



time of the year the birds were by no means shy, and were easily 

 approached. Specimens in Mr. Sennett's collection taken October 

 22, 1875, an d October 29, 1889, tend to confirm the date of arrival 

 recorded by us in 1900. Regarding its time of departure, Mr.. Bacon 

 states that it remains until the bay freezes over (December 8, 189^ ; 

 December 9, 1900), but ordinarily does not winter. One specimen 

 shot January 10, 1901, and an emaciated specimen captured near a 

 farmhouse, February 6, 1904, constitute exceptional records. The 

 latest date in the spring migration appears to be April 24, 1902, when 

 the species was recorded by Mr. Simpson. In former years it may even 

 have bred in this locality, as it is known to do now at the St. Clair 

 Flats, and formerly in northern Ohio, as recorded by Audubon ( Or- 

 nithological Biography, III., 1835, 431) and Dr. F. W. Langdon 

 {Journal Cincinnati Society of Natural History, III., 1880, 230). 



3. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. 



The present species, like the last, occurs only as a migrant in the 

 spring and fall. Although reported to be regular in its appearance at 

 the former season, it was apparently not common in the spring of 

 1900, having been noted on but three occasions — April 16, when a 

 flock of five was seen in Big Pond, two of which were secured ; April 

 17, when a few more were observed in the same pond ; and April 23, 

 when a single specimen was shot, also at the same place. Although 

 the conditions are seemingly as favorable for the species nesting here as 

 at other points along the shore of Lake Erie (cf. Langdon, Journal 

 Cincinnati Society of Natural History , III., 1880, 231), diligent and 

 repeated search in May failed to disclose the presence of even a single 

 individual, nor has Mr. Bacon ever found it in the breeding season. 

 However, he notes that it is among the first of the waterfowl to arrive 

 in the fall, coming in August (August 26, 1892; August 8, 1903). 

 In 1900 it was recorded in the fall migration as early as August 27, 

 and may have been present previous to that date. A bird secured 

 September 4 was in full summer plumage, but all others taken at this 

 season were in winter or immature dress. The species seemed to in- 

 crease in numbers up to the last week in September, when it was exceed- 

 ingly abundant, not only in the various ponds, but also on the shallow 

 parts of the bay, wherever there was an abundant growth of aquatic 

 plants. While numbers were often seen together, it would appear that 

 their association was the result of a common interest rather than of 



