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 addition 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 exception 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 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.

[Illustration 017: Deep buff or rich brown.]
[Illustration: Mexican Grebe. Pied-billed Grebe.]
[Illustration: Deep buff.]
[Illustration: right-hand margin.]

Page 16

[Illustration 018: PIED-BILLED GREBE.]

Page 17

LOONS. Family GAVIIDAE

Loons may be likened to gigantic Grebes from which they differ
externally, chiefly in the full webbed foot instead of the individually
webbed toes of the Grebe, and in the sharper, more pointed and
spear-like bill. These birds are similar in their habits to the Grebes,
except that their homes are generally more substantially built and are
placed upon a solid foundation, generally upon an island in some inland
lake.

Both Loons and Grebes are literally "Water witches," being practically,
and in the case of Grebes, actually, born in the water and living in it
ever afterwards. Loons are strong fliers, but like the Grebes, because
of their small wings they must get their first impetus from the water in
order to rise; in case there is any wind blowing they also make use of
this by starting their flight against it. They are very peculiar birds
and the expression "crazy as a loon" is not a fanciful one, being formed
from their early morning and evening antics when two or more of them
will race over the top of the water, up and down the lake, all the while
uttering their demoniacal laughter. They vie with the