NORTH AMERICAN GREBES. 15 
_ TABLE 1.—Items of animal food identified in stomachs of the horned grebe, 
with the number of times that each occurred—Continued. 
CoLEOPTERA-—Continued. HYMENOPTHRA— Continued. 
BetRnyinIgd: lanTvae= =. ofa 1/-) "Unidentilied ants 4 4 
- Unidentified Staphylinidae__________ f |. Pinhia snortata iS "se ee 1 
CS Se ee ee i Onloralictas Spoa == eee 1 
Unidentified Nitidulidae____________ i} Ceratina dupla_== 22 = es 1 
PCL OCrI AE SDe = ee ee 1 | Unidentified hymenopterans__________ 4 
Bee incs aieteridas Lees ieee s 
niden e CUP R ES) BUCY ee ee ARACHNID i : aye 
Be oains BRL TLEVEINC US = = te ee) . eee 
oan). J JS SSS Unidentified spiders. 5- 4-2 = 5 eee 3 
Unidentified Cerambycidae______--__ i giarets 
Bessey Cixycomaidae 4 MouLusca (Snails, Mussels, etc.). 
Tomicua sp. --------------. 4 | Unidentified snail ____—_-___________ 
Unidentified Rhynchophora___-_--_-_ + 4 
PISCES (Fishes). 
DIPTERA (Flies). ; ; 
Cypriaes: curpi0=— == _=2s 5 ae 
MHITONOMIt: IAT VAG ==- = = oe 27 Unidentified; Cyprinidae —-_- = 2s 
ery TaUGNIES oST= oe el ATLORLALLGL IS 281 SO eS eee ee 
Unidentified Muscidae______________ 1 || SS COLEDIOTUSESD — 2-5 So) ee eee 
Gasterosteus cataphractus___________ 
MaMENOPTORA (Wasps, Bees, and Ants). |. Menidia sp --~ ~~__+=--_.__---+-_--- 
. Umnidentitied (Percoidea,—= 2s == J 
Boteosema olmstead + = Se eee 
Chitonotis: pugetlensis= == 2S 
ATOLLS ACY) pee ee ed ee ee ee Se 
Dnidentitied; Cottidae a2 = a2 = yaaa 
OU RT oe te 
BCORPRER Sie tant 2 ae 
Camponotus herculeanus ____________ 
UOTE SS SP 82S 
HORNED Hee Re 
ba fa feed 
EARED GREBE. 
(Colymbus nigricollis californicus.) 
The American form, or subspecies, of the eared grebe is confined 
to the western part of North America, where it breeds from central 
and southern Canada south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and 
northern Iowa. In winter it passes south to Lower California and 
Guatemala. In breeding plumage the eared grebe has a distinct 
crest that distinguishes it at once from the horned grebe, but during 
- fall and winter the two are very similar in color. At this season 
the eared grebe may be told by its distinctly smaller size and by the 
form of the bill, which is flattened so that it is broader at the base 
than it is high. In the horned grebe the bill is laterally compressed, 
so that the width is less than the height. 
Eared grebes are seen commonly on open water even during the 
_ breeding season and, on the whole, are less timid than other grebes. 
They nest in large colonies on shallow lakes where there is suitable 
cover of rushes growing in the water. During the mating season 
the birds are found in pairs and have many courtship antics of 
interest. At this season they call constantly with pleasing whistled 
notes which at night blend with the voices of other marsh birds to 
form a wild chorus. 
In winter eared grebes are found on salt water along the Pacific 
coast. They are common also during migration in the strongly saline 
waters of Great Salt Lake, where they are attracted by the multi- 
tudinous brine shrimps (Artemia) that swarm in many bays. Be- 
cause of the density of the water the birds seem to rest lightly on 
the surface and after diving bob up like corks. On a few occasions 
eared grebes, attracted by innumerable larvae of alkali flies, have 
lingered on Owens Lake, Calif., another saline lake, until thousands, 
poisoned by the concentrated alkalis in the water, have become weak- 
ened and died. Their bodies drift ashore and are cast up in wind- 
