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in September and October, and leaving in May. According to Dr. E. Coues (B. of N.W. p. 732), 

 " this species is much more abundant and generally dispersed in winter in the United States than 

 either of the two larger ones, and it also nests within our limits. I found it breeding at various 

 points in Northern Dakota, as along the Red River, in the prairie sloughs, with Coots, Phalaropes, 

 and various Ducks, and in pools about the base of Turtle Mountain in company with P. cali- 

 fornicus and the Dabchick. I took fresh eggs on the 20th June at Pembina, finding them 

 scattered on a soaking bed of decayed reeds, as they had doubtless been disturbed by the hasty 

 movements of the parents on quitting the nest; there were only four; probably more would 

 have been laid. They are elliptical in shape, with little or no difference in colour at either end — 

 dull whitish with a very faint shade, quite smooth, and measure about 1-70 by 1-20. On Turtle 

 Mountain, late in July, I procured newly hatched young, swimming with their parents in the 

 various pools. At this early stage the neck is striped as in the common Dabchick. Later in the 

 season, during the migration, the Horned Grebes were numerous all along the Souris or Mouse 

 River, in company with an equal or even greater number of Eared Grebes, nearly all of both 

 species being the young of the year." 



In habits the Horned Grebe does not appreciably differ from its ally the Eared Grebe ; but 

 it is said to take wing more readily than that bird, and is scarcely so shy. Speaking of its habits 

 as observed by him in Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray says (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 407) : — " The habits 

 of this lively species may be best studied in spring, just about the time when it collects in pairs 

 before emigrating. In many of our western sea-lochs it is very conspicuous at this season ; and 

 on calm evenings, when the water is motionless and burnished in the slanting sunlight, delighting 

 the eye with a series of coloured cloud-pictures as the daylight recedes, the ear at once catches 

 the comical call-notes of these interesting birds holding their punch-and-judy conferences. Far 

 off, at almost a mile's distance, the little specks may be distinctly traced on the unruffled loch 

 shifting in circles and chasing each other, accompanying all their gambols with their shrill 

 intercourse about their future movements. Writing from Ardrishaig, Mr. Graham says, ' Last 

 year I observed this bird here in March. A considerable number remained in the loch during 

 the last week of the month, bad weather having retarded their progress. Although going in 

 small parties, they had evidently paired, the couples keeping close together, so close, indeed, that 

 I got two specimens at one shot. They were in full summer dress ; and a very striking and 

 beautiful combination it is of buff, black, and white, the largely developed horns of orange 

 plumes being a very attractive feature, and adding very much to the quaint appearance of the 

 birds. The iris is of a rich ruby-red, with an extremely fine exterior thread of white running 

 round it.' Sometimes their appearance in Loch Fyne is delayed two or three weeks, according 

 to the weather. They remain generally until the last week of April." In Shetland, Dr. Saxby 

 says, where it is the commonest of the Grebes, " it arrives in very small numbers in October, 

 leaves after a few days, and reappears about April, when it makes a longer stay of a few weeks. 

 It is occasionally seen upon fresh water, but seems to prefer some quiet inlet of the sea, where it 

 can dive undisturbed among the rocks and floating weeds ; but for what purpose it is difficult to 

 say, seeing that when the bird is shot after having been thus engaged for a considerable time, 

 the stomach merely contains vegetable fibres, sand, or feathers. In opening this bird I have 

 usually perceived a peculiar odour, resembling that of the bruised plant of Iris foeticlissima. It 



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