DIVING BIRDS 
5. Mexican Grebe. Colymbus 
dominicus brachypterus. 
Range. — Southern Texas and Lower Cali- 
fornia southward to South America, breed- 
ing throughout its range. 
The Least Grebe is by far the smallest of 
the Grebes in this country, being but 10 in. 
in length; it can not be mistaken for any 
other, the Eared Grebe being the only spe- 
cies of this family found in the same locali- 
ties during the summer. These little Grebes 
nest very abundantly along the Rio Grande 
Deep buff or rich brown 
Valley in Texas, the nesting season lasting 
from the latter part of May until well into 
December. 
Their nests are floating piles of grass and 
weeds upon which they lay from three to 
five chalky white eggs, which are always 
discolored, sometimes to a deep chocolate 
hue. These eggs average a great deal dark- 
er in color than do any of the other Grebes. 
In a series of fifty sets fully half were a 
rich brown tint. Si:;e 1.40 x .95. 
Mexican Grebe 
Pied-billed Grebe 
6. Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus 
podiceps. 
Range. — From the British provinces 
southward to Argentine Republic, breeding 
locally throughout the northern portions of 
its range. 
The Dabchick, as this bird is called, is the most evenly distributed bird 
of this family. It is nowhere especially abundant, nor is it, except in a very 
few localities, regarded as rare. Consequently it is the best known bird of 
the species. They do not congregate in such large numbers as the other 
Grebes during the nesting season, but one 
or more pairs may be found in almost any 
favorable locality. These birds render their 
floating nest a little more substantial than 
those of the preceding varieties by the ad- 
dition of mud which they bring up from the 
bottom of the pond ; this addition also tends 
to soil the eggs more, consequently the 
eggs of this bird are, as a general rule, 
browner than the other Grebes with the ex- 
ception of the Least. The bird may always 
be known by the shape of its bill which is 
higher than it is broad, and in the summer eep 3U 
is white with a black band across the middle. The throat is also black at 
this season. They lay from five to nine eggs commencing about the middle 
of May. Size 1.70 x 1.18. 
15 
