172 DtjBois, Nesting of the Horned Grebe. [April 



release. The making of these photographs consumed much time 

 and continually the Grebe was growing bolder. She swam almost 

 under the camera, and when I came close to the nest she made a 

 dash at me, shooting entirely out of the water. This show of 

 force was afterward repeated frequently, and it sometimes ended 

 with a violent, splashing dive which sent a shower of spray over 

 the camera outfit and the photographer. Meanwhile her spouse 

 drifted quietly at a safe and respectful distance. Although one 

 photograph of the bird on her nest was secured by means of a 

 very long thread, the result was rather unsatisfactory. 



On the following day, June 13, I donned the hip boots again and 

 stationed myself with the camera outfit, determined to see if 

 patience would be rewarded by an opportunity to photograph the 

 bird on her nest at close range. It was a wearisome experiment, 

 but not without result, for eventually the Grebes became remark- 

 ably bold. The female was the first to approach. She swam 

 around the nest repeatedly, but for a long time refused to venture 

 upon it. For the most part the male witnessed her adventures 

 from a discreet distance. Occasionally however, he came up; 

 and finally, while the female was showing her agitation by swim- 

 ming hurriedly about, the male swam deliberately to the nest, 

 climbed up its side, and sat on the eggs, facing me. A plate was 

 exposed on this unexpected sitter but unfortunately was ruined 

 by an accident before development. He became alarmed by my 

 activities in changing plate-holders, or perhaps by the removal of 

 my head from beneath the focusing cloth, and suddenly slipped 

 off the nest into the water. Both birds were subsequently photo- 

 graphed together, near the nest. 



I cautiously moved the camera somewhat closer and waited. 

 The female frequently shot out of the water at me with a rush 

 accompanied by a harsh cry, and sometimes ended her attack with 

 a dive and a great splash. Eventually she went upon the nest, 

 and once in contact with her eggs, she became invincible. I 

 photographed her thus; then moved the tripod toward her, slowly 

 and cautiously, keeping my head beneath the cloth. In this way 

 the camera was placed within arm's length of the bird and another 

 exposure made, which resulted in the intimate portrait of Plate 

 X, fig. 1. I uncovered my head, but she remained firm, and when 



