2 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



about the middle of October until early in April, and like other of the 

 Grebes has a common habit, when apprehensive of danger, of sinking 

 into the water and swimming off with nothing but its head above the 

 surface. The stomach-contents of several of these birds which I have 

 examined consisted mainly of sand, remains of fish and portions of 

 green-colored aquatic plants. In the stomachs of two specimens I 

 have found, in addition to other food-stuffs, small ball-like masses of 

 feathers. 



GENUS PODILYMBUS. LESSON. 

 6. Podilymbus podiceps (LINN.). 



Pied-billed Grebe. 



DESCRIPTION. 



A dult. Upper plumage very dark brown ; primaries dark-ash ; secondaries ash 

 on the outer webs, and white on the inner ; bill pale-blue, dusky on the ridge of the 

 upper mandible, both mandibles crossed with a broad black band, including the 

 nostrils ; chin and throat marked with a conspicuous black patch nearly two inches 

 in extent ; cheeks, and sides of the neck brownish-gray ; lower part of the neck, 

 upper part of the breast, and the sides, dull rusty-brown, spotted and rather indis- 

 tinctly barred with brownish-black ; lower part of breast and abdomen grayish- 

 white, mottled with dusky spots ; iris brown ; tarsi and feet grayish-black. 



Young. The throat is white and the bill without the transverse black band, the 

 under plumage more silvery-white ; in other respects the same as the adult ; some 

 specimens, probably the birds of the year, have whitish lines on the sides of the 

 head. 



Length, 14 inches ; wing, 5| ; bill, I ; tarsus, 1|. 



Hab. British Provinces, southward to Brazil, Buenos Ayres and Chili, including; 

 the West Indies and the Bermudas, breeding nearly throughout its range. 



The Pied-billed Grebe, although sometimes said to breed in Penn- 

 sylvania, is seldom found here during the breeding season. I have 

 observed this bird only as a winter visitant, not uncommon, arriving 

 usually about the middle of September and departing early in April. 

 The food of this species is similar to that of the Horned Grebe. 



NOTE. In relation to the Grebes in general it may be stated that 

 these paddle-toed birds unless flying are always to be seen in the 

 water. They swim and dive with the utmost facility; when swim- 

 ming beneath the water's surface it is said they use their wings in the 

 same manner as when flying in the air. Their well-known habit of 

 diving when alarmed, and particularly if shot at, has won for them 

 the common name of " Hell-divers." The Grebes are found chiefly 

 in this Commonwealth as winter visitants. During excessively cold 

 weather they forsake our streams and ponds and migrate southward. 

 Though not numerous, they are by no means rare about the larger 

 streams and ponds. Although these birds generally occur singly, oc- 

 casionally four or five individuals may be observed together. 



Grebes feed chiefly on fish, aquatic insects, and, to a limited extent, 



