A Pioneer History oe Becker County. 161 
i. Western Grebe (Acchmophonis occidentalis.) 
A western species, probably occurring occasionally in the 
lakes and marshes. 
Hocdoele’s Grebe, Red-necked Grede ( Colymbits holbocllii ) 
Undoubtedly breeds in colonies in the marshy bays of the 
larger lakes, as it does in Grant County and at Leech 
Lake. 
3. Horned Grebe (Coly mbits auritus). 
To be looked for chiefly spring and fall in open water. 
4. Eared Grebe ( Colymbus nigricollis calif ornicus). 
A western species, breeding in colonies in marshes and 
sloughs. 
5. Pied-billed Grebe, Dabchick, “Hell-diver” ( Podilymbus 
podiceps ). 
The common species of grebe, breeding abundantly in 
all shallow lakes and sloughs. The grebes all construct 
floating nests of water-soaked, decayed vegetation, deposit¬ 
ing the oval-shaped, much stained eggs in a shallow de¬ 
pression in the top. In the absence of the parent bird 
the eggs are covered with wet material and it is gener¬ 
ally thought that incubation is partly accomplished by 
the action of the sun upon this mass of damp vegeta¬ 
tion. 
6. Loon, Great Northern Diver ( Urinator imbcr), 
A common and well-known bird. The two large olive- 
gray, black-spotted eggs are usually deposited in a de¬ 
pression on an old muskrat house on the edge of open 
water. 
The Black-throated and Red-throated Loons, high north¬ 
ern species, may occasionally occur in early spring and 
late fall. 
7. Herring Gull ( Larus argentatus). 
This is the large white gull commonly seen spring and 
fall, flying over the larger lakes. It breeds farther north. 
8. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis.) 
A smaller gull similar to the last. 
9. Franklin’s Gull (Larus franklinii). 
The only gull found during the summer months. It breeds 
in colonies in sloughs and marshy lakes. The farmers 
call it the “Prairie Dove" and it may often be seen fol- 
