NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



to eight bluish white eggs with the usual chalky and discolored appearance. 

 The breeding season is at its height early in June, or earlier, in the southern 

 portions of its range. Size 1.75x1.20. Data. Artesian, S. Dakota, June21 ; 1899. 

 Nest of rushes, floating in three feet of water. Large colony in a small lake. 

 Collector, F. A. Patton. 



5. St. Domingo or Least Grebe. Colymbus dominicus brachypterm. 



Range. Southern Texas and Lower California southward to South America, 

 breeding throughout its range. 



The Least Grebe is by far the smallest of the 

 Grebes in this country, being but 10 in. in length; 

 it can not be mistaken for any other, the 

 Eared Grebe being the only other species of this 

 family found in the same localities during 

 the summer. These little Grebes nest very abund- 

 antly along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, the 

 nesting season lasting from the latter part of May 

 until well into December. 



Their nests are floating piles of grass and weeds 

 upon which they lay from three to five chalky 



white eggs, which are always discolored, sometimes to a deep chocolate hue. 

 These eggs average a great deal darker in color than do any of the other 

 Grebes. In a series of fifty sets fully half were a rich brown tint. Size 1.40x.95. 

 Data. Brownsville, Texas, May 26, 1900. 5 eggs. Nest of weeds and trash 

 floating on a small fresh pond. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong. 



NEST AND EGGS OF PIED-BILLED GREBE. 



