60 ' KANSAS Academy of Science. 



times to the surface, until they have at last found their prey. They then seize it 

 ■with their beak by the middle, and carry it without fail to their master. When the 

 fish is too large, they then give each other mutual assistance: one seizes it by the 

 head, the other by the tail, and in this manner carry it to the boat together. There 

 the boatman stretches out one of his long oars, on which they perch, and being de- 

 livered of their burden, they fly off to pursue their sport. When they are wearied, 

 he lets them rest for a while; but they are never fed till their work is over. In this 

 manner they supply a very plentiful table; but still their natural gluttony cannot 

 be reclaimed even by education. They have always, while they fish, the same string 

 fastened round their throats, to prevent them from devouring their prey, as other- 

 wise they would at once satiate themselves, and discontinue the pursuit the moment 

 they had filled their bellies." 



The birds breed in communities, and where the ground or rocks will admit, their 

 nests are placed closely together. On the last of July, 1880, 1 found the birds breed- 

 ing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the sides of the cliffs on Bonaventure Isle, and 

 on the top of Perce Rock. The latter cannot be climbed, and nearly all the nests 

 upon the isle were beyond reach; those examined, however, had young birds from 

 half to nearly full grown, and hundreds of little fellows could be seen either upon 

 their nests or standing near by upon the rock. The birds are very filthy, and the 

 stench about their breeding-grounds sickening. Their nests are made of sticks, moss 

 from the rocks, and sea-weed. Eggs, three or four — 2.50x1.56; pale bluish-green, 

 coated with a white chalky substance, but more or less stained in their dirty nests; 

 in form, elongate ovate. 



ADDITIONS TO THE CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF KANSAS— WITH 

 NOTES IN REGARD TO THEIR HABITS, ETC. 



BY N. S. GOSS. 



THE WESTERN GREBE. 

 {^^chmophorus occidentaUs Lawr.) 



Habitat, western North America, eastward to Manitoba; accidental in Kansas. 



For this addition to our list, we are indebted to Prof. F. H. Snow, who reports 

 that a young male was killed November 3, 1887, on the Kansas river, at Lawrence. 

 The birds are quite common on the northwestern part of the continent; breeding in 

 reeds, ponds and lakes, east to northern Dakota and Manitoba; wintering along the 

 Pacific coast south into Lower California; but this caj)ture east of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains is the first mention that I can find of their appearance south of their breeding- 

 grounds. I have noticed this large species at San Diego several times; and in the 

 winter and early spring of 1882 I had a good opportunity to observe them on the 

 waters of Puget Sound. The birds ride the water lightly, and their silky jjlumage, 

 slender build, long, waving necks and graceful carriage can but attract the attention 

 of the most indifferent of observers. It ranks high among the water birds, and ia, 

 by right, the queen of the family. Like all of the race, they are expert swimmers 

 and divers, and can quietly sink out of sight in the water, without an apparent mo- 

 tion; but their natural mode of diving is to spring with a stroke of their feet, almost 

 clearing the water, and disappearing about three feet from the starting-point. They 

 are at home on the waves, and it is almost impossible to force the birds to take wing; 

 but when in the air fly with great rapidity, with neck and feet stretched out to their 

 full extent, and in alighting, often do not attempt to slacken their speed, but strike 

 the water with partially closed wings, with a force that carries them on the surface 

 from twenty to forty feet. 



