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America (Grebes are eminently aquatic)

Grebes are eminently aquatic birds, and rarely if ever venture upon land, where they are almost helpless. The marvelous rapidity with which Grebes dive, and the ease with which this power formerly enabled them to escape the shot of the fowler, have won for them their various popular names of "Hell-diver," " Water-witch," etc. The cartridges of the modern breech-loader do not give the warning of the discarded flint-lock or percussion cap, and "to dive at the flash" is an expression which now has lost half its meaning. Grebes possess the power of swimming with only the tip of the bill above water, a habit which accounts for many mysterious disappearances. They feed largely on fish, which they pursue and catch under water, progressing by aid of the feet alone.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Depth of bill at nostril over 35. a. Wing over 6.00 b. Wing under 6.00 B. Depth of bill at nostril less than 35. . . . . 2. HOLBELL'S GREBE. 6. PIED-BILLED GREBE. 3. HORNED GREBE. 2. Colymbus holbellii (Reinh.). HOLBELL'S GREBE. Ad. in summer.-Top of the head, small crest, and back of the neck, glossy black; back blackish; throat and sides of the head silvery white; front and sides of the neck rufous, changing gradually over the breast into the silvery white belly; sides tinged with rufous. Ad. in winter.---Upper parts blackish brown; throat and under parts whitish; front and sides of the neck pale rufous. Im. -Upper parts blackish; throat and under parts silvery white; neck and sides grayish. L., 19.00; W., 7.50; Tar., 2.20; B., 1.90.