2 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



weeds and other vegetable matter before leaving them, so that incuba- 

 tion may continue during their absence. 



Only a few of the nests observed by Mr. Stebbins were covered ; 

 the tall grass obstructed the view of the birds, so that when approached 

 they would hurriedly slip off the nests, and leave the eggs exposed. 

 The only birds seen were those in the vicinity of the nests, and they 

 swam away with their heads and necks above water, making a kind of 

 cackling noise. In their habits they resemble the Loon, diving or swim- 

 ming under water with the greatest ease ; and, when on the wing, they 

 fly with wonderful rapidity for birds of their nature. 



The eggs of this species are from two to five in number, elliptical 

 oval in shape, very pale bluish green in color ; and, like all Grebes' 

 eggs, the surface is stained a light brown, or very much soiled by con- 

 tact with the decomposed vegetable matter of the nests. 



Mr. Walter E. Bryant, of Oakland, California, has a set of five 

 eggs in his collection, which were taken at Washoe Lake, Nevada, in 

 the latter part of May. These measure as follows: 59x39, 63x39, 

 58.5 x 38, 60 x 38, 59 x 39.5 mm.* Three sets in my collection, two of five 

 eggs and one of four, taken by Mr. Stebbins, measure: 2.32x1.58, 

 2.40x1.57, 2.50x1.53, 2.46x1.58, 2.48x1.60; 2.14x1.48, 2.27x1.54, 

 2.30x1.63, 2.29x1.58, 2.28x1.53; 2.44x1.52, 2.37x1.47, 2.52x1.44, 

 2.45x1.47. 



The bird known as Clark's Grebef is probably the female of s. 

 occidentalis.\ 



2. Colymbus holbcellii (REINH.) [731.] 



Holbcell's Grebe. 



Hab. North America at large, including Greenland. Also Eastern Siberia, and southward to Japan. 

 Breeds in high latitudes, migrating south in winter. 



In the large bodies of water, the little bayous and sloughs, rivers 

 and grassy pools from Northern Maine to Greenland ; from the swamps 

 of the Red River Valley of the North, and again, westerly and north- 

 ward to the margins of the placid lakes that border the great Yukon 

 River in Alaska, and beyond, this Grebe makes its summer home. 



In the Fur Countries it breeds in lonely and retired places, such 

 as in the tussocks of wiry grass that border the Waterhen River and 

 Long Lake in Manitoba. It is said to breed abundantly at these places, 

 and often where it is quite common during the breeding season, its 



*2.32xl.54, 2 48x1.54, 2.30x1.50, 2.36x1.50, 2,32x1.56. 

 fPlaced in the " Hypothetical List" of the A. O. U. Check-List. 



\Cf. Henshaw, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VI, 1881, pp. 214-218; B. B. and R., Water Birds N. Am., II, p. 

 423; Bryant, Auk., II, pp. 313-314. 



ji The summer home of a bird is generally understood to be its breeding place. 



