58 
BIENNAL REPORT 
descending the Mississippi homeward bound. “About a quarter past twelve we 
suddenly came upon Lake Pepin, and the weather being improved into a fine 
sunny morning, the spectacle which presented itself was as rare and beautiful 
as any I had seen the whole summer. Upon the smooth and glassy surface of the 
lake hundreds upon hundreds of noble swans were floating with their cygnets, 
looking at a distance like boats under sail. The cygnets were still of a dull 
yellow colour, and all the birds were very shy. It made a beautiful picture.'"' 
THE IVA TER BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 
GREBES. (Colymbidae ). 
Five species of Grebes are found in Minnesota and all nest within the state. 
One, the large Western or “Swan-necked Grebe,” occurs only sparingly along the 
western border of the state and occasionally as a straggler further east. It has 
been found breeding at Heron Lake and has been taken in the nesting season along 
the Red River of the North. The Eared Grebe, also a western species, nests in 
colonies at least as far east as Swan Lake, Nicollet County. Holboell’s and the 
Horned Grebes occur throughout the state but breed chiefly northward. The little 
Pied-billed Grebe, Dabchick or “Helldiver” is the abundant species and is found 
in great numbers everywhere in still waters. All the Grebes build floating nests 
of water-soaked, decayed materials and cover their eggs when not sitting on them. 
Grebes are not edible and are usually considered of little economic importance, 
but investigations made by the Biological Survey at Washington seem to indicate 
that they are of more value than supposed. McAtee in Farmers’ Bulletin No. 497 
reports as follows in regard to the examination of the stomach contents of 57 
Horned Grebes: “Various beetles, chiefly aquatic, compose 23.3 per cent of the 
food; other insects, nearly 12 per cent; fishes, 27.8 per cent; crawfish, 20.7 per 
cent; and other Crustacea, 13.8 per cent. A little other animal matter is taken, 
including snails and spiders, and a small quantity of vegetable food w r as found in 
two stomachs.” It is a curious fact that the stomachs of Grebes almost alwavs 
contain a mass of feathers, which it is supposed play some unknown but probably 
essential part in the digestive process of these birds. McAtee states that 66 per 
cent of the stomach contents of the 57 Horned Grebes examined consisted of 
feathers. The young are also fed feathers. 
LOONS. ( Gavudae). 
The Loon or Great Northern Diver was once an abundant bird in all the 
open waters of the state but while still fairly well represented, is gradually 
diminishing in numbers, due, perhaps, to the fact that for years it has been a fav¬ 
orite target of the man with a rifle. In large bodies of water as Lake Superior 
it sometimes annoys the fishermen by becoming entangled in their nets, occasionally 
at an astonishingly great depth below the surface. Its food is chiefly small fish of 
no special commercial value. The Loon is a beautiful and attractive object and 
for this reason, if for no other, it is desirable to preserve it. 
Another species, the Red-throated Loon, may be an occasional winter visitant 
from the north but thus far there are no satisfactory records. 
