15 



iiig young birds— for the last fdw days I have only 

 seen two young and one parent — try to fly for the first 

 time; its quills are nearly grown. The parent was 

 not about at the time. 



J2ily I'jth. Saw the remaining old bird (the 

 smaller one apparently) chase off the older young 

 bird, and twice feed the younger one. 



y7dy iSth. Only one chick, the smaller one, to 

 be seen, and this in close company with the solitary 

 old birds. This chick's wing-quills are barely sprout- 

 ing as yet. 



y7ily 19/^. State of affairs the same as yesterday. 



July 22,rd. One young bird and one old bird only 

 visible still ; former still being fed by latter. 



July 2^fk. Still one chick and one parent ; quills 

 of former now full grown ; parent seen to drive it. 

 This parent is still in quite full plumage. 



July 2<^th. Both old birds now on pond ; when 

 first seen only one was near the young. Later, both 

 in quite full plumage, were together, building another 

 nest in about the same place as the last one. Young 

 bird now trying to fly. 



Aiigust \th. Both parents and the young one, 

 now feathered all over, on pond. Yesterday, as one 

 old bird was manipulating a fish, the other kept on 

 driving off the young which persisted in wanting it. 



August loth. Saw young bird with fair-sized 

 fish, which it had evidently caught itself. A little 

 later it was being attacked by a young water snake 

 {Tropidonotus piscator), which it evidently feared. 



August i2,th. Old birds have built a new nest, 

 nearer shore, among bullrushes. Saw it for first time 

 to-day. 



The young bird is still present, but keeps some 

 distance off. When I have seen it the last few days it 

 has been near one old bird oftener than the old pair 

 were near each other. 



