Nov., 1916 
NESTING OK THE LECONTE THRASHER 
221 
the one photographed (fig. 53), and may be regarded as being typical of those 
described by Mr. Gilman. Both nests contained three incubated eggs. 
The skeleton or framework of the photographed nest is bulky, strong and 
well anchored amid the many ramifications of the spiny cactus. The lining is 
made entirely of a fine, gray, woolly plant which grows in abundance in the 
locality and is pulled up entire by the bird. This material is firmly pressed to- 
gether and forms a remarkably felt-like padding about one-half inch in thick- 
ness. The light gray color of this lining contrasts well with the brown frame- 
work and the light blue of the eggs. (See fig. 54.) 
At Cabezon the Pasadena Thrasher ( Toxostoma redivivum pasadenense ) 
occurs also. Nests of this bird were found to differ radically from those of the 
Leconte Thrasher in not having the felt-like lining. 
Colton , California, August 24, 1916. 
THE SAN DOMINGO GREBE IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS 
By ROY W. QUILLIN and RIDLEY HOLLEMAN 
A BOUT TEN miles south of San Antonio, there is a large marshy lake 
which covers something like a thousand or twelve hundred acres. Being 
the only body of water of this size in this part of Texas, and having excep- 
tional surroundings, it is the mecca of the water birds of this county. Practi- 
cally the entire lake is surrounded by a barrier of cat-tail reeds, tides and marsh 
grass, which in some portions is one hundred or more yards in width. 
While searching for nests of the American Eared Grebe in a secluded inlet 
of this lake we located our first nest with eggs of the San Domingo Grebe ( Colym - 
bus dominions braehypterus) . Both cat-tails and tules were growing at this 
point, but not so thickly as they are generally found. In one of the small patches 
of open water, which break the monotony of these reed jungles, the nest was 
anchored. In general appearance the nests examined by us average somewhat 
smaller than nests of the American Eared Grebe, this being especially true of 
the hollow in which the eggs are deposited. The nests were composed of decayed 
reeds of every description, heaped into a cone-shaped mass measuring from four 
to six inches in height, and from fourteen to twenty-four inches in diameter at 
the base, tapering to six or eight inches at the top, and they were liberally plas- 
tered with mud, especially the depression which held the eggs. The area of this 
depression, the depth of which is about one inch, is determined by the number of 
eggs in the clutch, as they fit snugly into it. 
Of five nests located from June 25 to July 9, two contained four eggs and 
three, three eggs. All these sets were from slight to heavily incubated. The eggs 
were badly stained, and the majority retained a rich brown cast even after the 
most vigorous scrubbing. In all cases the eggs were covered by a thin layer of 
damp, decayed reeds. 
We were unable to flush the bird from any of these nests, and were able to 
identify them only by patient and lengthy waiting. These Grebes are very hard 
to see on this lake, as they keep close to the reeds, and if found a short distance 
from them they immediately slip under the water and disappear. However, 
