IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 97 



three-fourths the size of a common egg of this species. 

 This set I did not have the pleasure of seeing. 



On April 8, 1896, a set of six fresh eo^gs was taken at the 

 Upper Palisades. This set is peculiarly marked, having 

 pronounced washes of reddish coffee color often at the 

 small end of the eggs and showing a peculiar purplish lilac 

 as a deeper ground color. One or two eggs are irregularly- 

 daubed with black at the smaller end. They vary in 

 length from 1-78.96 to 1-94.96 inches, and in breadth from 

 1-47.96 to 1-56.95 inches. A second set of three eggs 

 hatched some distance below and on the opposite side of 

 the river from the usual nesting site. The young birds 

 were all killed before reaching maturity. 



Up to this time it had been easy to start the birds from 

 the nest by clapping the hands or striking an oar upon the 

 water, but now the birds having become wiser, it was only 

 when the nest was approached very near that the old birds 

 could be flushed. 



On the 1st of May, 1897, a set of four fresh eggs was 

 taken from the site where in 1896 the three young birds, 

 were seen. The birds seemed for some time to be consid- 

 ering the old site at the upper cliff, but finally decided on 

 the lower cliff, and hence the late date of this set. There 

 is a possibility of this being a second set, but as the birds 

 were closely watched it is quite unlikely. One of these 

 eggs appears as though it had been steeped in strong 

 coffee. It is also quite pointed. Another appears as 

 though but half immersed in the same fluid, and the others 

 are not specially peculiar but lighter in color. They vary 

 in length from 1-84.96 to 1-59.96 inches, and in breadth 

 from 1-53.96 to 1-59.96 inches. No second set w^as taken 

 during this year. 



In 1898 the last set was taken from this pair of birds. 

 They had returned to the old nesting site in the upper 

 cliff' and there deposited a set of six eggs, which were fresh 

 when taken, April 6fch. This set is peculiar in its contrast- 

 ing colors. The background being in sharp contrast with 

 the dark reddish splashes of color in three cases, centered 

 at the large end and in two instances at the small end of 



