The American Eared Grebe 



Texas, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern California. Winters 

 chiefly west of the Rocky Mountains from Washington to Texas, Guatemala, and south- 

 ern Lower California. 



Distribution in California. — Breeds abundantly on Mono Lake, and commonly 

 east and north of the Sierras at various stations. Also casually or in small numbers 

 throughout the central valley and at Elizabeth Lake, Bear Lake, San Jacinto Lake, 

 and formerly near Escondido. Winters commonly on lakes and reservoirs or estuaries 

 and bays, less commonly along the water front. 



Authorities. — Heermann (Podiceps calif amicus), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 vol. vii., 1854, p. 179 (orig. desc. ; Calif.); Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. v., 

 1908, p. 51 (desc. breeding colony on Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mts.). 



CHRISTENED califomicus by Heermann, who first distinguished 

 the American Eared Grebe from that of the Old World, the species finds, 

 nevertheless, its center of distribution much further north. If the follow- 

 ing paragraph retains, therefore, a certain northern flavor, it may claim 

 authenticity in the face of meager California notes. 



It has been a blazing day, for June, even in the Big Bend country 

 (in Washington), but now the sun has sunk behind the Cascades and the 

 earth has already begun to exhale the fresh odors of recovering darkness. 

 The modest chores of camp-life are done, kindling split for morning and 

 laid away under the flap of the tent, a fresh covering of rye grass cut to 

 cushion the bumps in the ground which gradually revealed themselves 

 in last night's slumbers; and now we may lounge by the brink of the lake, 

 flip pebbles at its unruffled face, or resign ourselves to the peace of night- 

 fall. Most birds have properly tucked head under wing, and even the 

 Nighthawks are less feverish in their exertions; but not so with the 

 Eared Grebes. It is the magic hour of courtship, and near and far from 



Taken on Laguna Blanca 



:ared grehe in winter garb 



2052 



