CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. i 
widely distributed in Ontario, but most common in the autumn. 
Breeding from the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes to Hudson 
Bay, and west to Great Slave Lake. Abundant in all parts of 
Manitoba, and specially numerous in August and September on 
the head-waters of Swan River and the surrounding lakes and 
marshes. Although so common in the wooded portions of Mani- 
toba it has seldom been observed in the prairie region. One 
individual was seen near the Dirt Hills, Assa.,in October, 1881, by 
Mr. W. Spreadborough, and Dr. Coues saw it at Turtle Mountain, 
Assa. Lord, Fannin and Brooks report it as common in British 
Columbia. Spreadborough reports seeing three in Victoria harbour 
in April, 1893. It is evidently a forest bird as it is seldom seen on 
the prairies. 
BREEDING Nortes.-——I have found this bird breeding at Long 
Lake, Manitoba, and, like the Eared and Horned Grebes, it often 
lays as many as seven or eight eggs. I find that all the Grebes 
cover their eggs with weeds during the day, and the weeds are 
removed at dark by the bird, which incubates the eggs until the 
morning sun relieves her of her task. (Razne.) 
This species commences to build its nest near Ottawa, Ontario, 
about the first week in May. The nest is built on the edge of a 
marsh and is about the size of a bushel basket. It is composed 
of moss, grass, roots and mud. Eggs, five or more in number, 
are whitish, clouded with green. The nest is very difficult to 
find, as the old birds cover it over when they leave. (G..R. White.) 
The Pied-billed Grebe is very common in the River St. Law- 
rence between Kingston and Brockville. I have seen a number 
of nests. The nest of this species is a more substantial structure 
and better concealed than that of the Horned Grebe. In one 
instance I have known a colony breeding together ; this was on 
June Ist, 1897, where, in a space less than a quarter of an acre, 
in a retired bay off the River St. Lawrence below Rockport, | 
found four nests close together—one with seven eggs, one with 
eight, and two with nine eggs each. These nests, though floating 
structures, were quite substantial, and were in about three feet of 
water ; all the eggs were covered with weeds and were incu- 
bated from a week to ten days. Nowhere else have I found more 
than eight eggs in the nest, and that number only once. The 
usual number is seven. (Rev. C./. Young.) 
