18 BULLETIN 107, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
flocks. In its winter quarters on the coast of Washington Mr. W. L. 
Dawson (1909) associates this species with the “ characteristic bird 
population which stretches along at just a little more than gunshot 
range from shore,” when he finds it “almost invariably numbered 
with this shifting, distrustful company of sea fowl, pigeon guille- 
mots, buffleheads, mergansers, and scoters.” 
Winter.—All through the fall, winter, and spring these grebes are 
fairly common on the New England coast, where they may be seen 
riding the waves just off shore, feeding in the shoals just beyond the 
breakers, in company with loons, horned grebes, golden-eyes, scoters, 
and red-breasted mergansers. It is interesting to watch them with a 
“powerful glass as they dive through the breakers, where their move- 
ments can sometimes be plainly seen through the face of an incom- 
ing wave. 
As Holbeell’s grebe is inclined to winter somewhat in large inland 
lakes, it is sometimes caught by the freezing of lakes which are 
usually open. Mr. Alvin R. Cahn (1912) has published the following 
acount of his experience with it on Cayuga Lake, New York, in Feb- 
ruary, 1912: 
The freezing of Cayuga Lake offered a rare opportunity for a study of this 
most interesting and apparently little known bird. Until the present time, 
the Holboell’s grebe has been considered only a rare visitant at the southern end 
of the lake, one or two being recorded almost every winter. It has proved, 
however, to be the predominant grebe during this winter, 28 individuals having 
been taken. The reason of its unprecedented abundance here is undoubtedly 
to be found in the six weeks of extremely cold weather, and the consequent 
closure of waters in other regions. The sudden closing of the lake’s surface in 
one night left these birds in an absolutely helpless condition, since open water 
is a necessity for taking flight in this group of birds, Holbeell’s grebe being no 
exception to the rule. As a result, 11 beautiful specimens were picked up alive 
from the ice in perfectly good physical condition. If approached while sitting 
on the ice, these birds made no attempt to escape. They would strike at the 
outstretched hand, and would emit calls very loonlike in general quality. Once 
the bird alights upon the ice, it is unable to take flight, and must await starva- 
tion or other tragic end. At best, all it can do is to flap its wings and possibly 
scrape along over the ice a few feet. The position of the legs, together with the 
smooth surface of the ice, rendered these efforts at locomotion entirely futile. 
A bird (referred to above) was caught on the ice near Taunton, 
Massachusetts, on February 14, 1918; it would undoubtedly have 
starved to death, as it was unable to rise off the ice. On December 
27, 1909, a bird was brought to me which was caught in a yard in 
the city of Taunton, having been bewildered by a thick snowstorm 
and become exhausted. There are numerous other similar records. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
Breeding range—Northern North America and northeastern 
Asia. East to northern Ungava and Hudson Strait. South to 
