2 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
on nests made of mud and the old and broken reeds of the last 
season; these nests were very rudimentary in form, but in all 
‘cases there was a slight depression in the centre where the eggs 
rested, about six inches above the water. None of the nests had 
more than five eggs, most of them but four, which seemed to be 
the usual number. The nests were so placed that they would 
rise and fall with the water, as indeed is the case with all Grebes. 
No other birds were breeding in the vicinity and the water around 
the breeding ground was swarming with individuals which dived, 
swam, or sunk themselves in the water so that nothing but their 
curving necks and long sharp bills protruded above it. They 
doubtless breed in many other lakes in Assiniboia and Alberta, 
but no other breeding grounds are known to the writer. It is 
claimed to be a summer resident of British Columbia by Streator 
and Fannin, but neither of them cites a locality. 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Our specimens are a male and female taken at Indian Head, 
Assiniboia, May 16th, 1892, by Spreadborough. Two sets of 
eggs—four each—taken at Crane Lake, Assa., June 18th, 1894, 
by the writer. 
Il. COLYMBUS. Linnvus. 
2. Red-necked Grebe. Holbell’s Grebe. 
Colymbus holbellit (REINH.) Ripew. 1884. 
This is a very widely distributed species and extends as a 
‘straggler from Greenland ( Arc/. Man.) across the continent to the 
North Pacific. It is a rare migrant in Nova Scotia (Downs); 
occasionally seen in New Brunswick (Chamberlain) ; large flocks 
seen on Prince Edward Island, August 8th, 1888 (AZacoun) ; Beau- 
port, Quebec. (Dionne.) Seems to be common in Ontario, having 
been taken at Ottawa (Oz. Nat.), at Mitchell’s Bay, Lake 
Huron (Saunders), and one taken from a flock of fifteen near 
Plover Mills, Ont. (R. dott) Is a regular spring and fall visitor 
in Ontario. (Mclllwraith.) 
This bird arrived in Prince of Wales Sound, Hudson Strait, 
about June 20th, 1885, and was often seen during the summer. 
(/ ayne.) Summer resident chiefly of the shallow fish-frequented 
lakes of northern Manitoba. (T7kompson.) Breeding in great 
