152 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 15-No. 10 



iiulistinct, while tlie darker underlying colors 

 are so profuse as to conceal the creamy ground 

 in large patches. In shape this set differs 

 from tlie former in being nearer round, and 

 having greater capacity: 1.25 x.!)4and 1.2Gx.94. 

 Taken June 10, 1888. 



Set 589, c. This is a peculiar set by reason 

 of the difference of size in the two eggs. Tiie 

 ground color of the larger is a shade lighter 

 cream than either of the foregoing sets, but 

 tlie brown markings are much heavier and 

 more diffused, while the darker under shade is 

 almost absent, so that the contrast between 

 the ground color and the markings is very 

 great and the effect quite handsome. 



The smaller egg is of a very peculiar shape, 

 approaching the pyrifoim. Ground color 

 somewhat darker and toned up by profuse 

 indistinct markings. Size: J. 14 x. 84 and 

 1.22x.9o. Taken June 9, 1890. Fresh. 



Set 643, d. This set is of a salmon-buff' 

 color, both eggs being of same shade. One of 

 them is well sprinkled witli l)rown spots aver- 

 aging one sixteenth of one inch in diameter, 

 the markings on this shade being ragged and 

 irregular, while the darker, i)uri)lish shade, is 

 representative in a smaller number of more 

 regular oval spots which cidmiiiate in one 

 large blotch of same color near tlie middle of 

 one side, in size about three eighths of an inch 

 by a quarter of ;in inch wide; the secoiul egg j 

 very faintly marked: l.:]0x.94 and 1.27 x. 92. 

 Taken June 14, 1890. Fresh. 



Set 608, e. A conspicuous featuie in this 

 large set of eggs is the great lengtli of one of 

 them. Both are handsomely marked with 

 large aieas of both shades, the lirown or cinna- 

 mon color being so conspicuous as to almost 

 conceal the darker shade. A noticeable i>ecul- 

 iai'ity in the longer egg is a narrow band of 

 light olive color that encircles it at its greatest 

 diameter, which is well defined by a ridge. 

 Slight granulations exist on tlie shells of both 

 eggs. In the longer egg the brown blotches 

 are massed at the greater end, tlie smiiller 

 being almost free from them. Tliis is the 

 largest set in the series, measuring .91 x l.;!8 

 and .92x1.28. Found June 17, 1890. 



Set 77, ./'. This set, although below the aver- 

 age size, is of the tyjiical (xoatsucker shape, 

 an elliptical oval, one egg being slightly more 

 pointed at the smaller end. This is perhaps 

 the most striking set in the entire series, by 

 reason of its peculiar, bold markings. The 

 color is a rich salmon-buff, the marking of the 

 two shades usually seen, but on one egg of the 

 set are of a peculiar, wavy, vermicular form, 



especially at the smaller end. This shape is 

 found in both colors, and strongly resembles 

 the markings found on eggs of Icteridje or 

 the Oriole family; measures 1.20 x. 88 and 

 1.23 X. 84. Found April 21, 1890. 



Set 55, ;/. This is a set containing one egg 

 about as light in color as any in the series 

 while the other is of the typical salmon-buff. 

 In the light egg the surface spots are of dark 

 cinnamon-brown, some few approaching a 

 burnt sienna, and, while comparatively few in 

 number, they are large and scattered around 

 the greater end, being unlike any other speci- 

 men in the series. April 12, 1890. Size: 

 1.27 x. 86 and 1.26 x. 87. 



Set 515, h. A peculiar set by reason of great 

 length of both eggs, their difference in color 

 and peculiar markings, or rather absence of 

 markings. One egg is of a very dark salmon 

 color, s])iinkled toward the greater end with a 

 few fine specks of both shades. The other 

 egg is of a lighter type, but moie heavily 

 marked than the former. Size: 1.84x.93 and 

 1.35 X. 90. Taken June 3, 1890. 



Set 356, /. A large set of the ordinary shape, 

 but the coloration is so singular as to be diffi- 

 cult of accurate description. In the lirst egg 

 the two shades of markings are so intermingled 

 and blended as to almost cover the surface of 

 the shell and give it a beautiful mottled 

 appearance. The other egg is similnrly 

 marked, Itut much more faintly, leaving the 

 ground luiobscured in numerous places. In 

 this egg are many well-defined, crooked, wavy 

 lines having the appearance of cracks on the 

 shell. Measure: 1.25 x .90 and 1.26 x. 93. May 

 21, 1890. 



The nine sets described above fairly illus- 

 trate the entire series, while the remaining 

 sixteen, though no two are precisely alke, are 

 not suthciently characteristic to make it worth 

 while to describe tiiem in detail, all of them 

 closely resembling the type, in size and color 

 and shape. Th<>iiiaf( ff. Jack.'ioii. 



West Chester. I'u. 



Nesting of the Pied-billed Grebe. 



I have read witli interest in the O. & O., 

 from time to time, notes fi-om collectors of 

 different localities on the nesting of the Pied- 

 billed (4rel)e. 1 have made this bird a special 

 study for some time, and am always glad to 

 see any notes of interest any collector may 

 bring out. 



During the i)ast season (1890), 1 had a good 



