AMONG THE WATER-FOWL 



stemmed reeds for a few yards out. They are 

 much like the typical New England pond, and, like 

 them, have comparatively few water-fowl. 



There are some, however, and one of the most 

 characteristic I found to be the large Holboell's 

 Grebe, the only Grebe, in fact, that I saw in the 

 region. I met them only in solitary pairs, nesting 



in the outer edge 

 of the reeds on 

 the shores of the 

 ponds. One of 

 the first birds 

 that I noticed as 

 we drove in from 

 the prairie was 

 one of these 

 Grebes swim- 

 ming in a small 

 pond near some 

 reedy clumps. 

 Next day I 

 walked back 

 there. The bird 

 was on guard, 

 and its mate swam out from the reeds at my 

 approach. There was the nest amid the reeds in 

 about three feet of water, a large floating pile of wet, 

 decayed stems. The five dirty white eggs, as large 

 again as those of the Eared Grebe, were covered. 

 With some drift-wood I managed to arrange a stand- 

 ing place, from which I photographed the nest. 



Usually but one pair was found in a small pond, 

 and when, in the larger ones, there were several, 



28 



NEST OF HOLBOELL S GREBE 



