200 Birp LIFE AND Birp PHOTOGRAPHY. 
ornithological puzzle. As can be seen, neither of these birds is a 
mature male. As a matter of fact we often saw the “ pater 
familias,’’ but he would never face the camera. Probably one of 
these birds is a female which had lost her young, and so, prompted 
by the feelings of maternity, carried food to a nest where she knew 
there were eager mouths to fill. 
TREE CREEPER. 
This slide shows the nest of a tree creeper, built in a loose 
stone dyke. Usually this nest is made in a crevice of a tree or 
behind some semi-detached piece of bark. These birds have the 
peculiarity of always lining their nests with strips of bark, as can 
be seen. Here we see the tree creeper about to enter its nest. 
The stiff, stunted tail should be noticed, which, with its two legs, 
makes a kind of tripod for the bird to rest on when creeping the 
trees in search of its insect food. 
Tue LITTLE GREBE. 
Our next series of photographs concern the little grebe or 
dabchick. This bird, I understand, has only comparatively 
recently taken to nesting in this locality. This photograph is of 
the Far Loch at Capenoch, where it is now an annual visitant. 
This year I first noticed it on April 6th. The little grebe is ex- 
tremely shy in its habits. Its nest is but a floating raft of aquatic 
plants moored to the surrounding rushes and reeds. On leaving 
the nest the bird carefully covers up its eggs, so that, as can be 
seen by our photograph, the nest might often be passed by in 
mistake for a bunch of weeds. Here we see the nest uncovered. 
The eggs are newly laid, or they would soon have become dis- 
coloured by being so frequently covered over with decaying vege- 
table matter. When fresh laid, these eggs are of a chalky white 
colour, which soon becomes stained. When blown, they are of a 
blue-green colour within. This slide shows the bird on its nest. 
To get this photograph a dummy camera was placed near the nest 
for several days in about three feet of water. When the photo- 
graph was taken the camera took the place of the dummy, and I 
hid on the bank as far away as the length of tubing of my 
pneumatic release would allow. Encouraged by my success, the 
next day the camera was placed even nearer the nest, with the 
result shown. On the first sign of danger the little grebe in an 
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