29S BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OP MONTANA. 



and was almost immediately disintegrated. The eggs were found to be 

 far advanced in incubation. Another nest of this species was noted on 

 July 17, in a large fir tree on the shore of the lake near the Station. It 

 was about fifteen feet from the ground, near the extremity of a large dead 

 horizontal branch, the site being at least ten feet from the trunk of the 

 tree. As in the former instance, the nest was made upon a horizontal 

 fork. Fearing that the accident in the former case might repeat itself, 

 we did not attefpt to examine this nest, and left the female sitting con- 

 tentedly upon her breezy home. The eggs of the western wood pewee 

 are creamy yellowish-brown, blotched irregularly with reddish-brown. 



The western nighthawk, Chordeiles virginianus henryi, nests abund- 

 antly on the rocky ridges near the Station. A set of two eggs of this 

 nighthawk was found June 26, on the rocky ridge west of the road leading 

 to Holt. The sitting bird was startled within three feet of me as I 

 ascended the rock. She flitted painfully away for about twenty feet, and 

 sat fluttering for several minutes; then she flutered over the edge of the 

 cliff and disappeared. The eggs were on a portion of bare rock sur- 

 rounded by brown moss, the bare spot being not more than three inches 

 square. The eggs were advanced in incubation. They are a dark stone 

 gray, variously marked with spots and blotches of dark brown. On July 

 1, I chanced upon a sitting nighthawk on the rocks east of Daphnia Pond. 

 Upon being flushed, she flew away low and heavily. Only one egg was 

 found, far advanced in incubation, and I fancied that the parent bird had 

 carried away an egg or a young recently hatched. ' The egg was on the 

 bare rock or earth which scantily covered the rock, though a few small 

 sprouts were growing near. On July 19, a set of two fresh eggs was 

 found on these rocks. 



Several nests of the gray ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus umbelloides, 

 were examined. One found on June 7, at the head of Swan lake, was 

 made about eight feet from a trail used frequently by trappers. It was 

 under the upturnea end of a fallen log, in warm exposure, made of dead 

 leaves in a depression, with half a dozen soft feathers. The depression 

 measured seven inches across at the top, and was two and one-half inches 

 deep. There were ten eggs, partialy incubated. They are a light red- 

 dish-cream color, having few faint indistinct specks of reddish-brown. On 

 June 15, a nest of this grouse was noted with six eggs. It was at the 

 base of a small fir, made as before described, and like the other, it was 

 near a trail and not closely concealed. On June 20, the nest was empty, 

 the eggs having evidently hatched, and the place was deserted. Another 

 nest of the ruffed grouse was found on June 16, in the edge of a small 

 clearing on Swan lake. This nest was under the edge of a fallen log, 

 among surrounding tangled weeds that most effectually concealed the nest. 

 It held seven eggs which were thought to be about ready to hatch. 



A small colony of Holboell's grebe, Colymbus holboellii, consisting of 

 at least five pairs, was found nesting at the head of Swan lake. The 

 first nest was found on June 4, among tall dead reeds. It was made of 

 black decaying material, with some green reeds intermingled. The 

 mass floated about four inches above water. The nest was in the edge 

 of a clump of reeds, about which there was clear water all around. There 



