16Q 



GREBES— LOON— DIVER— PETRELS. 



Dab-chick; Pied-billed Grebe ; Dipper; Diedapper. (Podilimbus podi- 



ceps.) 



Fig. 4. 



This well-marked bird is abundant throughout North America, 

 in the places that Grebes are usually met with. 



American Eared Grebe. {Podiceps auritus^ 



Fig- 5- 



In western Arctic America and in winter in the Pacific States 

 this species is common. Dr. Coues saw the species alive in South- 

 ern California, where he found it to be very common, both on the 

 waters of the bay of San Pedro and in the sloughs back of the 

 coast. They were of course in immature dress, the season being 

 November. During the past year he was pleased to find the birds 

 breeding, in pools about Turtle Mountain, with various other water- 

 fowl. This is apparently the northeasternmost point at which the 

 species has been observed. Visiting this locality in July, he was 

 too late for eggs, for the young were already swimming, and, in 

 most cases, fledged. The birds were very common, rather more 

 so than P. cornutus, with which they were associated. Many 

 specimens were secured in their full nuptial dress. The change 

 begins in August, but it is not completed until well into the follow- 

 ing month, as traces of the breeding plumage persist several weeks 

 after it has grown faded and obscure. On the breeding grounds, 

 as just said, the Eared Grebes were more plentiful than the Horned, 

 since a majority of the latter breed further north ; but upon the mi- 

 gration, when these come south, the proportion is reversed. Both 

 species were to be seen together upon all the water-courses of 

 Northern Dakota when he left the country in the middle of October. 

 He saw nothing notably different in their general habits. 



Red-necked Grebe. (Podiceps griseigena.) 

 Fig. 6. 



The habitat of this species is Greenland and America, a fact 

 that has been established by Dr. Coues. It was formerly consid- 

 ered identical with that of the Old World. 



Western Grebe. {Podiceps occidentalism 

 Fig. 7. 



Clark's Western Grebe. (Podiceps occidentalism var. clarkii.) 



Fig. 8. 



Both of these birds are met with west of the Rocky Mountains. 

 They are considered the largest Grebes of this country. Dr. Coues 

 observed them frequently on the California coast, at San Pedro, in 

 November, when they were common on the waters of the harbor, 

 with the Pacific Diver, Cormorants, and numerous other water- 

 fowl. They are fine-looking birds on the water, have a trim and 

 shapely aspect, like a clipper ship, while their long sinuous neck is 

 held in a graceful curve, or variously deflected to either side. A 

 specimen which he opened had the stomach filled with a kind of 

 aquatic grass. The birds were not very shy and several were 

 readily procured, notwithstanding their great powers of diving. 



Yellow-billed Loon. (Colymbus torquatus, var. adamsii.) 

 Fig. 9. 



Alaska and the interior of Arctic America is the residence of 

 this species. It is similar in appearance, with the exception of the 

 bill, to the Great Northern Diver Loon, Plate XIV., fig. 1, page 14. 



Black-throated Diver. (Colymbus arcticus.) 

 Fig. 10. 



The Black-throated Diver is an inhabitant of the northern hemi- 

 sphere. It is smaller than the preceding, but very much like it in 

 its colors and markings. Mr. Dunn, who observed these birds in 

 Norway, writes that the eggs have a rank fishy taste, but are much 

 sought after by the Lapps. After the young are hatched, both 

 male and female are very assiduous in bringing them food, and 

 may be seen flying at a vast height, with fish in their beaks, from 

 one lake to another; on arriving over the lake where they intend 

 to alight, they descend very suddenly in an oblique direction. Their 

 cries are very peculiar during the breeding season, and may be 

 heard at a great distance. The voice is said to be very melan- 

 choly, and to resemble the cry of a human being in distress. 



Fork-tailed Petrel. (Oceanodroma Jurcata.) 

 Fig. n. 



Hornby's Petrel. {Oceanodroma hornbyiJ) 

 Fig. 12. 



Ashby Petrel. (Cymochorca homochroa.) 

 Fig. 13- 



Black Petrel. (Cymochorea melania.) 

 Fig. 14- 



Wedge-tailed, or Least Petrel. (Halocyptena microsomal) 

 Fig- 15- 



Leach's Petrel. (Cymockorca Icttcorrhoa.) 

 Fig. 18. 



Petrels, Swallow Petrels, or Storm-birds are distinguishable from 

 all other birds by the circumstance that their nostrils are repre- 

 sented by horny tubes, situated upon the upper beak. Nuttall says 

 of them, they are oceanic birds, wandering out far from the land 

 nearly at all seasons of the year, and are found in all parts of the 

 world. Their flight is rapid, like that of the swallows, which they 

 so much resemble in general appearance; they fly low, skimming 

 thf; water, and attentively scanning its surface for their diminutive 

 prey of marine insects and small molusca. They venture out at 

 all times of the day in quest of their accidental fare, and follow the 

 wakes of vessels partly for the animal productions which are thus 

 whirled to the surface, and not less for the fat and other animal 

 matters which are occasionally ejected from the decks. In stormy 

 weather they easily find shelter from the blast by skimming 

 through the valleys of the mountain waves. They are often seen 

 tripping upon the surface of the water, while eagerly engaged in 

 seizing their food, balancing themselves with singular lightness, 

 by gently flapping and fanning their expanded wings. At such 

 times they often dip their heads beneath the water, and though 

 they swim and rest upon that element at night and in fine weather, 

 they are incapable of diving. Their voice is low, gutteral, and 

 somewhat chattering, particularly at night and during clear 

 weather. They breed in society near the sea, selecting for their 

 nests the holes and cavities of rocks, which they sometimes bur- 

 row out for themselves, but often make use of the deserted resorts 

 of other hiding animals ; the eggs are one or two, and they feed 



