itoba and wintering along the Pacific Coast of the United States and
from Texas southward.

Eared Grebes differ from the preceding in having the entire neck
blackish. They nest very abundantly throughout the west, in favorable
localities, from Texas to Minnesota and Dakota. Their nests are
constructed in the same manner as the preceding varieties and are
located in similar localities. As do all the Grebes when leaving the
nest, they cover the eggs with the damp rushes from around the base of
the nest. This is probably for the purpose of assisting incubation
during their absence, by the action of the sun's rays on the wet mass.
As they are nearly always thus covered upon the approach of anyone, this
may be done also as a protection from discovery. They lay from three to
eight bluish white eggs with the usual chalky and discolored appearance.
The breeding season is at its height early in June, or earlier, in the
southern portion of its range. Size 1.75 x 1.20. Data.--Artesian, S.
Dakota, June 21, 1899. Nest of rushes, floating in three feet of water.
Large colony in a small lake. Collector, F. A. Patton.

[Illustration 015: Horned Grebe. Eared Grebe.]
[Illustration: Buffy white, nest stained.]
[Illustration: Bluish white, stained.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 14

[Illustration 016: Walter Raine
NEST AND EGGS OF HORNED GREBE
Saltcoats Marshes, Assiniboia, June 6, 1901.]
[Illustration left margin.]

Page 15

5. MEXICAN GREBE. _Colymbus dominicus brachypterus._

Range.--Southern Texas and Lower California southward to South America,
breeding throughout its range.

The Least Grebe is by far the smallest of the Grebes in this country,
being but 10 in. in length; it can not be mistaken for any other, the
Eared Grebe being the only species of this family found in the same
localities during the summer. These little Grebes nest very abundantly
along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, the nesting season lasting from
the latter part of May until well into December.

Their nests are floating piles of grass and weeds upon which they lay
from three to five chalky white eggs, which are always discolored,
sometimes to a deep chocolate hue. These eggs average a great deal
darker in color than do any of the other Grebes. In a series of fifty
sets fully half were a rich brown tint. Size 1.40 x .95.

6. PIED-BILLED GREBE. _Podilymbus podiceps._

Range.--From the British provinces southward to Argentine Republic,