Page:Condor12(6).djvu/12

 190 THE CONDOR VOL. XlI In the large number of nests examined we found from one to eight eggs, but I am inclined to believe that four is about the smallest number constituting a full set, while six (or possibly seven) is the maximum number laid by the Eared Grebes. The few sets of eight found were those of the Pied-bill, and one nest con- tained five eggs on the point of hatching and four chicks just out of the shell. (A set of this species in my collection collected near Chicago by Mr. Gerard Alan Ab-- bott contains nine eggs.) The eggs of both species when first laid were a clear bluish white, the bluish tint being much more pronounced in the Eared Grebes' eggs, but the original color was promptly reduced to a dirty brown by contact with the decomposing nest material. Eggs of the Eared Grebes averaged a trifle longer than those of the Pied-bills, but the difference could not be detected with- out measuring. Fig. 61. NESr OF PIED-BILLED GREBE SHOWIIqG CAREFUL MAIIER Iq W]ICH EGGS ARE COVERED BY PAREq BIRDS In several nests which were carefully watcht, one egg was deposited each day, but as to whether incubation commenced when the first egg was laid, we were un- able to decide. In one or more instances where the first set had been destroyed a second set was deposited in the same nest after a lapse of about a week, and a nest containing one fresh egg was found as late as July 6. The great majority of nests were discovered during the heat of the day, when the eggs were covered and the parents were far out on the lake; but several times we surprized the parent birds near the nests and had excellent opportunities to study their actions. Some would swim rapidly away repeating the wheezing grebe call note until out of sight. Others would swim back and forth a few yards out of reach giving a rasping cry of protest; and a very few birds exhibited markt evidence of excitement, feigning a broken wing, uttering hoarse crys, and beating the water