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THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVI 
cit.) says that the eggs oi C. n. calif ornicus are “bluish white, with the usual 
chalky and discolored appearance,” and he gives the size as 1.75x1.20. Ridg- 
Avay does not describe them, simply stating “Eggs 4-8, 1.75x1.10.” 
Audulion had but confused ideas about our smaller grebes and theii’ eggs, 
so it is quite useless to cite him as an authority on these interesting birds. 
Xos. 7 and 8 here figured are of a pale clay color, no. 7 being three or four 
sliades darker than no. 8. Possibly they may be stained in the usual Avay ; but 
tliey do not appear to have any chalky deposit upon them, and they vary some- 
what in shape. No. 7 measures 1.61x1.24, and no. 8 1.75x1.19, ivliile other eggs 
of this subspecies at hand average somewhat smaller in size. 
Eggs of the Mexican Grebe {Colymhus dohiinicus brachypteriis) , here 
shown in fig. 51, nos. 5 and 6, are often of an earth brown color and blotched ; 
otliers are lighter, but still exhibit the same blotched or marbled appearance 
on a light clay ground. As usual, they vary in form and size. No. 5 measures 
1.40x1.00. Reed gives the average size as 1.40x.95, and there is a specimen in 
Court's collection which is exactly of that size. 
Frank B. Armstrong of Brownsville, Texas, collected nos. 5 and 6, and 
othei-s also at hand (May 26, 1906). It was near his home, and a large colony 
of the birds were associated together. Their nests were composed of decayed 
grass and weeds. The eggs described by Reed {loc. cit., p. 3) were taken by the 
same inveterate collector on the same date as above, and Reed gives the color 
as “deep buff or rich brown,” which is correct. Clutch 3-5. 
Coues did not describe the eggs of this subspecies ; but of the extralimital 
grebe, Colyrnhus clominicns, he says; “eggs usually 7, 1.35x0.95,” without giv- 
ing either their color or form (loc. cit., p. 1058). 
Our Pied-billed Grebe or Dabchick {Podilymhus podiceps), the eggs of 
which are here shown in fig. 51, nos. 9 and 10, breeds in various regions 
throughout North and South America, being very rare in some localities; its 
eggs have been very differently described by various writers on ornithology. 
Audubon apparently never discovered but one nest of this bird — or what 
he supposed to be this bird — and it contained five eggs. He describes them as 
measuring “an inch and a quarter, by seven and a half-eights,” and they were 
“smooth, rather rounded, and of a light greenish- white colour.” With respect 
to tlie coloi’, he was about right; but I have never seen a “rather rounded” 
yrche's egg, and his measurements are certainly away off. 
Coues says not a word about their color or form, stating simply: “Eggs 
4-6 or more, 1.70x0.95” (loc. cit., p. 1059). 
Reed gives their color as “deep buff”; the clutch 5-9, and the size as 1.70x 
1.18 (loc. cit., p. 5). There are four of these eggs before me, taken from a set 
of five (set mark 9-5), They were collected by Dan Spencer in Iowa (“Town 
('r. Bluff”) on the 13th day of June, 1895. “Nest of mud and rushes floating in 
water.” (See fig. 51, nos. 9 and 10.) I find these eggs to be of a pale greenish- 
white, with little or no chalky deposit upon them whatever. As usual, they vary 
somewhat in form and size, measuring upon the average 1.70x1.19, individual 
specimens being either a little larger or somewhat smaller than this, and some 
being rather more elongate than others. 
There can be no question in regard to the morphological similarity be- 
tween tlie loons of the genus Oavia and the grebes ; and, structurally, a loon is 
much nearer Colynibus than it is to any auk (Alca, etc.). With respect to the 
eggs laid by the representatives of the genps Gavia, however, they are all very 
