Vol 'i9i9 XVI ] DuBois, Nesting of the Horned Grebe. 175 



holding her head down, close to the nest rim. As I came within 

 twenty-five or thirty yards of the nest the bird hastily pulled a 

 covering of green-stuff over the eggs and slid silently into the 

 water, disappearing completely. Although I watched for some 

 time I did not succeed in catching even a glimpse of either of the 

 birds. 



On the occasion of the sixth visit (June 26) I found the nest 

 lightly covered with fresh green stems and blades which had been 

 plucked by the bird. At that time I made the notation in my 

 field book: "Never see the birds on the open water any more." 

 However, on the next day, some time after I had left the nest, 

 I did see one of the Grebes floating on the open water. The eggs 

 had again been covered with fresh vegetation. 



On the morning of June 27, I approached by a circuitous route, 

 passing by the nest with my interest ostensibly concentrated else- 

 where. But as I passed too near her the bird slipped quickly off 

 the nest without stopping to cover the eggs; and I could not find 

 her afterward. It will be noted from the tabulated schedule that 

 neither of the birds was seen at the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth 

 visits. The thirteenth visit was more successful for I saw a Grebe 

 sitting perfectly motionless, at the edge of a water-lane which 

 traversed some of the thickest vegetation, its bright red eyes 

 appearing as its only conspicuous feature. The next day (four- 

 teenth visit), I could not find the birds, and the fifteenth visit 

 gave me only a fleeting glimpse of a Grebe. The eggs were not 

 covered but were slightly shielded on the side from which I had 

 come. On the evening of July 12, one of the birds was observed 

 floating, silent and solemn, with head toward me, at the farthest 

 side of the open water. It was evident at this time that the birds 

 had changed their dress since my acquaintance with them at their 

 first nest, for no yellow "horns" were now visible. 



On July 13, finding only four eggs in the nest, and pieces of 

 egg shell both there and in the water, I searched carefully in the 

 vicinity of the nest but without result. I could neither find the 

 newly hatched young nor catch any glimpse of either parent. On 

 the next day the conditions were the same except that the eggs were 

 slightly covered and a few small feathers had been left on the nest, 

 showing that the bird had been upon it. 



