Twenty-fourth Annual meeting. 49 



ing the day. The research has, however, developed the remarkable fact that when 

 leaves become covered with dew the radiation is the same for all, being that of a 

 dew surface, and is much less than the radiation of naked leaves, being only 62.7 per 

 cent, of lampblacked surfaces. This is one of the causes that has contributed in no 

 small degree to make coal so abundant upon the earth. 



NESTING OF THE PIED-BILLED GREBE. 



BY A. M. COLLETTE, EMPOKIA. 



The pied-billed grebe {Podilymhus podiceps) is known to every boy who ever 

 shouldered a gun and wandered along our creeks and rivers by some of the follow- 

 ing names: Thick-billed grebe, Carolina grebe, dabchick, dipper, water witch, devil- 

 diver, or hell-diver. 



It is a common summer resident in our State, and very abundant in migration, 

 arriving the last of April and remaining until late in the fall. 



These birds (like all the family) are noted for their wonderful power of diving 

 and swimming. I think it would be safe to say that in a minute's time they can 

 dive 300 or 400 feet. 



Colonel Goss, in his "History of the Birds of Kansas," says: "Some writers hold 

 that these birds do not use their wings under water. This may be so; but I am in- 

 clined to think, when out of the rushes and with nothing to catch or tangle, they use 

 them to accelerate their speed." 



They do not often take to wing, relying more on their power of swimming and 

 diving as a means of escape; and it is almost impossible to force them to leave the 

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

 to their full extent. 



About their breeding places they are very shy, and, when approached, will cover 

 their eggs and slip quietly away, thus leading a great many ornithologists to be- 

 lieve that these birds do not occupy their nests during the day, but cover them with 

 decaying vegetation and the eggs are kept warm by the artificial heat from this ma- 

 terial. 



The doubt that existed in my mind with regard to this has been entirely eradi- 

 cated. A good opportunity offered itself this summer to watch their nidification 

 and I took advantage of it. 



On a large pond, about three miles from Emporia, covered with rushes and other 

 aquatic plants, these birds are found in great abundance. They were first observed 

 nesting here by V. L. Kellogg, of the State University, in 1885, at which time he pro- 

 cured a number of sets. It might be interesting to add that they have never nested 

 here since until this summer, when I took about 20 nests. 



The nests are composed of decaying reeds, rushes, and grass, mixed with a debris 

 brought up from the bottom. This structure is fastened to the flags and reeds, 

 making a floating island of decaying material a few inches above the water, upon 

 which a small nest is built. 



Two of the nests that I found were located in some small aquatic plants a short 

 distance from the bank, in about three feet of water, and from a tree on the bank 

 the eggs could be distinctly seen. 



From this tree I could watch the birds without being seen by them, and during 

 all the time I watched them I never saw them leave the nest unless disturbed, and 

 —4 



