holboell’s grebe. 
385 
the breeding-season, delighting in the seclusion of the desolate 
wilderness, penetrating in the present continent as far as the 
remote inland shores of Great Slave Lake, where individuals 
were observed by Captain Franklin’s adventurous party in the 
month of May. In the course of the winter these birds pro- 
ceed to the South, probably as far as Florida, but are rarely seen 
in the United States. At this season they frequent lakes and 
the estuaries or rivers in the vicinity of the sea, but at other 
times are seen more abundantly on fresh waters. They are 
common in the eastern parts of Ivurope, and frequently visit 
Great Britain, Germany, and Switzerland. Their food, as usual, 
is small fish, fry, reptiles, coleopterous insects, and vegetables. 
Ihe nest is similar to that of the preceding species; the eggs 
number three or four, of a whitish green, and appearing as if 
soiled with yellowish or brown. 
The Red-necked Grebe breeds from about latitude 45° to the 
higher fur countries, but is rather uncommon in New England and 
the adjacent provinces, where it occurs chiefly as a winter visitor. 
It is quite abundant in Manitoba. 
In common with others of the family, this Grebe is an expert 
diver. Often it will sink into the water without any apparent effort, 
though more generally it jumps forward, throwing the head into the 
water, and the body into the air. It is an expert and rapid swimmer 
also, and all its movements on the water are extremely graceful. 
When pursued, these birds invariably endeavor to escape by diving, 
though when on the wing they fly rapidly, their necks and feet 
stretched at full length. 
It is said that the female takes the newly hatched young upon 
her back, and swims with them in that position, feeding them, while 
eating her own meal, on portions of the fish and vegetable matter 
which she gathers. 
VOL. II. — 25 
