268 PODICEPS CORNUTUS. 



ward to breed, some remain Avithin the limits of the United 

 States during the wliole year, rearing tlieir young on the bor- 

 ders of ponds, particularly in the northern parts of the State 

 of Ohio, in the vicinity of Lake Erie. Two nests which I 

 found were placed at a distance of about four yards from the 

 water's edge, on the top of broken down tussocks of rank 

 weeds. The materials of which they were composed Avere of 

 the same nature, and rudely interwoven to a height of 

 upwards of seven inches. They were rather more than a foot 

 in diameter at the base, the cavity only four inches across, 

 shallow, but more neatly finished with finer plants, of which 

 a quantity lay on the borders, and was probably used by the 

 bird to cover the eggs when about to leave them. There 

 were five eggs in one nest, seven in the other ; they measured 

 one inch and three-quarters in length, by one inch and two- 

 and-a-half eighths ; their shell was smooth, and of a unifoitn 

 yellowish cream colour, without spots or marks of any kind. 

 I could not ascertain if both the parent birds incubate ; but 

 as I saw two pairs on the pond, I am inclined to think that 

 they do. The nests were not fastened to the weeds around 

 them, nor do I conceive it probable that they could be floated, 

 as various writers assert they are at times." Thus M. Tem- 

 minck : — " Nestles among the reeds, or constructs a floating 

 nest, composed of plants, and attached to the stems of 

 rushes ;" and Mr. Selby : — " It breeds among the reeds and 

 sedges, constructing a large nest of decayed vegetables, roots, 

 &c., and which is calculated to rise and fall under the in- 

 fluence of the tide." 



Young. — In its first winter, the young bird has the bill 

 dark bluish-grey, with the basal half of the lower mandible, 

 the basal margins of the upper, and the tips of both yellow. 

 The iris is carmine ; the loral space dusky. The feet bluish- 

 grey externally, tinged with gi-eenish-yellow internally. 

 There are slight occipital tufts, but no ruff. Tlie upper part 

 of the head and the hind neck are greyish-black, as are the 

 upper parts of the body, with the feathers edged with greyish. 

 The throat, cheeks, and si)ace ultimately occupied by the 

 ruff, are white ; below this the fore neck for nearly two 



