330 BIRD-LIFE IN WESTERN CANADA 



bird on its nest failed ; nevertheless, whether I approached 

 cautiously or as rapidly as possible, five warm eggs were al- 

 ways carefully covered, while the bird, with body nearly 

 submerged, uttered a sharp cluck as it swam nervously 

 about in the near-by reeds. Fresh leaves which I placed on 

 the nest-covering in the morning were missing in the after- 

 noon showing that the bird had returned to the nest in the 

 meantime. The eggs hatched June 17. 



The Western Grebe, whether flushed from the nest or 

 leaving it to feed, does not, as a rule, cover its eggs, and 

 only in exceptional cases were the eggs concealed by the 

 nest material. Nevertheless I have seen the birds, while 

 standing nearly erect in the nest, attempt to place some 

 covering over the eggs before sliding into the water as I ap- 

 proached. I have found a colony containing dozens of nests 

 of these birds, each with eggs, not one of which was covered, 

 although the birds had left them voluntarily. Other obser- 

 vations show that they spend much time away from their 

 nests during the day. 



They are splendid, spirited birds and hold their long, 

 slender necks with a dignity and grace of carriage which 

 should win them the name of Swan-Grebe. Although with- 

 out the feather ' ' ruffs ' ' of some Grebes, their shining black 

 crowns and sharply defined, absolutely immaculate, snowy- 

 white cheeks and necks are striking characters and, when 

 seen at short range, their bright red eyes increase the dis- 

 tinction of their appearance. While preening their plum- 

 age, they often lie on one side in the water, when the light 

 flashes from their glistening breasts as it would from a 

 mirror. 



When mating, the feathers of crown and nape are fluff- 

 ed, the birds face each other and, with evidently intense ex- 

 citement, wave their heads and necks from side to side with 

 a swaying, sinuous motion ; then, as they come together, 

 there follows a rush through the water which can be heard 

 above all other sounds of the reeds, 



