REPORT UPON ORNITHOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. 



95 



found with partial complements of eggs ; bat owing to tbe absence of 

 the owners, their identity could not be determined. 



101. Nettlon carolinemis (Gin.) Green-winged Teal. 



Also common. A nest containing ten eggs was found under a sage- 

 bush, perhaps thirty feet from the water's edge. A deep hollow had 

 been scooped in the sand, and lined warmly with fine grasses and down, 

 evidently taken from the bird's own breast, which was plucked nearly 

 bare. The eggs are of a pale-yellowish color, aud average 1.81 in length 

 by 1.31 in diameter. 



102. Spatula clypeata (L.) 

 Rather common. 



-Shoveler. 



103. Chaulelasmus streperus (L.) Gad wall. 

 A few seen. 



PODICIPID^E (the Grebes). 



104. Podiceps auritus (L.), var. calif ornicuSj Heerm. American Eared 

 Grebe. 



Common. A colony was found breeding, their nests being placed in 

 a bed of reeds in the middle of a small pond. The nests were slightly 

 hollowed piles of decaying weeds and rushes, just raised above the sur- 

 face of the water, upon which they floated. Each nest contained three 

 eggs, most of them being fresh, but a few were somewhat advanced. 

 As in every case the eggs were entirely covered by a pile of vegetable 

 material, and as in no case the birds were found incubating, even where 

 the eggs gave evidence of the tact, it seems highly probable that their 

 hatching is dependent more or less upon artificial heat, which must be 

 induced by the effect of the hot sun. 



The eggs vary little in shape, are considerably elongated, one end 

 being slightly more pointed than the other. They vary in length from 

 1.70 to 1.80 ; "in breadth, 1.18 to 1.33. Color a taint yellowish white, 

 usually much stained by contact with the nest. The texture is gen- 

 erally quite smooth 5 in others roughened by a chalky deposit. 



SECTION III. 



Leaving Southern Colorado July 2, I arrived at Fort Wiugate, IS". 

 Mex., the 12th. During a week's delay, attendant on fitting out the 

 several parties, short trips were made into the neighboring region ; Dr. 

 Newberry, jr., and myself accompanying the party on each occasion, 

 and making collections in natural history. Owing to the rather desolate 

 nature of the country, these, however, were not very extensive; the birds 

 especially being found rather scarce. Starting from Win gate July 19, 

 a southwesterly course was pursued, our destination being Apache, 

 Ariz., where we arrived August 2. During this interval, as we moved 

 slowly, I was enabled to spend considerable time in making collections, 



