Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 489 



In 1900, almost daily from August 28 to December 8; in 1901, 

 from April 15 to 28, and on December 18; in 1903, on September 

 21; in 1904, on October 31 and November 1; in 1906, on August 

 29, September 14, October 5, 6, 9, 11, 15 and 30, and November 

 8; in 1907, from September 7 to October 14; in 1908, on August 

 24 and September 6 ; and in 1913, from September 6 to October 26. 

 Specimens were examined on October 27 and November 14, 19, 

 and 20, 1900 ; April 15 and December 18, 1901 ; October 5, 6, 9, 

 11, 15, 30 and November 8, 1906, and October 10, 1913. 



The nest is usually a little semi-floating island made of decayed 

 and decaying rushes, reeds and grass mixed with mud and various 

 sorts of debris gathered from the bottom or from the nearby shore. 

 The nest will be fastened more or less securely to reeds or rushes or 

 other aquatic plants which have been pulled down and piled upon 

 until the nest rises two or three inches above the water. The eggs 

 number six to nine or ten and are a dirty yellowish or bluish white. 

 During the day the grebes cover the eggs with decaying vegetation 

 and trust to the heat of the sun to incubate them. At night it is 

 said the rubbish is removed and the bird sits upon the eggs. 



The Helldiver remains late in the fall, even until compelled to 

 leave by the freezing over of the lake. They appear in spring 

 as early as April 15 and are common for about 2 weeks. Dur- 

 ing the summer only rarely is one seen until about the last week 

 in August when they reappear. They are most common from 

 about the tenth of September to the first of December. The latest 

 date on which any was observed was December 18. 



This bird is solitary in its habits though now and then 2 or 3 

 or even more may be seen together. We have observed small 

 flocks of as many as five, particularly in Outlet Bay, at Norris 

 Inlet, and in Lost Lake. Like the horned grebe the Helldiver de- 

 lights most in the shallow water near shore, especially over mud 

 bottom, and in the vicinity of patches of vegetation. Rarely is it 

 seen far out on the lake. To find it one should look in the nooks 

 and coves and other protected places. Here it swims about quietly, 

 never uttering a sound, and escaping when approached, usually by 

 diving and not coming up until some distance away. Sometimes 

 when one of these birds is approached quietly and slowly, it will 

 settle down quietly in the water, leaving only its bill and nostrils 

 projecting. It normally rides much higher in the water than the 

 coot, nearly all its body being above the water-line. 



A favorite resort for the Helldiver was in Outlet Bay. There 

 one to 5 or 6 could be seen any day in late summer or during the 

 fall, swimming about quietly, now and then diving for food. Some- 



