4 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



are bluish-white in color, with the usual discolorations on the surface. 

 They vary from 1.60 to 1.85 in length, and from i.io to 1.20 in 

 breadth. 



4. Colymbus nigricollls californicus (Heerm.) [733a.] 



American Eared Grelie. 



Hab. Northern and Western North America, from the Mississippi Valley westward. 



In most of the States and Territories west of the Mississippi 

 River, this species breeds more or less abundantly in suitable locali- 

 ties, and its breeding range is almost as extensive as its habitat. 



It has been found nesting in the grassy lagoons of Texas, in the 

 fresh water ponds of California, the pools and sloughs of Eastern 

 Oregon, the alkali lakes of Colorado, Kansas, and the Territory of 

 Wyoming, in the little inlets of the larger bodies of water in Dakota 

 and Minnesota, thence northward to the inland waters of British 

 America. This Grebe, in common with the others, is justly noted for 

 its expertness in diving and swimming, and, like all true divers, it is 

 awkward on land. From the posterior position of the legs these birds 

 stand almost upright, so that they have more the air of a small kan- 

 garoo than of a bird. 



Its general breeding habits are like others of the family, nesting, 

 however, in more open situations, in flags and rushes, or upon a float- 

 ing foundation in shallow water. In the absence of the bird the eggs 

 are covered with debris. The habit of covering the eggs among the 

 Grebes is either for the purpose of concealing them from enemies, 

 such as Hawks and Gulls, or that upon the artificial heat, pro-, 

 duced by the decayed vegetation, they are more or less dependent for 

 the hatching of their eggs. When thus covered, the birds are known 

 to remain away from their nests during the entire daytime. The eggs 

 of this species are four to eight in number, and in Minnesota, Dakota 

 and Wyoming, they are deposited in the first part of June. They are 

 elongated in shape, bluish white in color, but soon become soiled by 

 the wet material of the nest. The measurement of eight eggs, collected 

 in the marshes of Red Lake, Minnesota, on the 7th of June, are as 

 follows: 1.79x1.31, 1.75x1.30, 1.73x1.35, 1.70X1.15, 1.80x1.23, 1-79 

 X 1.35, 1.73 X 1.20, and 1.73 x 1.18. A set of four eggs from Dakota has 

 a decidedly buff ground color instead of the usual bluish white. 



5. Colymbus dominicus Linn [734.] 



St. Domingo Qrebe. 



Hab. Texas and Southern California, southward through Tropical America to Paraguay, including the 



West Indies. , 



Here is the smallest of our Grebes. It has a breeding range ex- 



