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 170 THE CONDOR V.XX ern kingbirds (Tyrannus vociferans and Tyrannus verticalis), the three orioles, Bullock, Arizona Hooded and Scott ( Icterus bullocki, Icterus c. nelsoni and Ic- terus parisorum), the last a particularly good example to cite, Lead-colored Bush- tit (Psaltriparus plumbeus), the jays, nuthatches and wrens, and in fact almost the whole list of nesting birds as I met them year after year, to demonstrate the conclusions arrived at, namely, that it is far more usual for the same pair of birds to remain mated for life than it is unusual. The nature of these observations is such that they are not capable of scien- tific proof but they are very convincing nevertheless. One of my most valued notebooks is based on the facts enumerated and bears the title of "Nest census of known breeding pairs '. Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, February 4, 1918. A RETURN TO THE DAKOTA LAKE REGION By FLORENCE MERRIAM BAILEY ( ContiLued from page. 137) IV. THE GREBE O17 THE SILVERY THROAT A flash of a .long silvery throat disappearing in a lake had haunted me for four years, for it had been my first sight of the Western Grebe, the silvery- throated King of the Grebes. That was on one of the Sweetwater lakes and now, on my return to them, a distant glimpse of another white throat at the foot of the north lake filled me with hope. So, starting out in the morning, i followed down the shore under cover of the rules, keeping a sharp lookout, bending over in the low rules, but standing erect, well hidden, in the high ones, as they rose above my head. 'Even when exposed, there was much in my fa- vor, for the birds of the lake had to look at me toward the light and, used to brown cattle splashing and shoving through the reeds and canes, in a poor light might not discriminate between my bent, brown and green figure and the low familiar forms. In the shallow water, in. imitation of silent paddling, I wad- ed slowly, keeping my boots under water; and .in places where the water was not too deep, set up my camp stool behind a thin screen of waving rule, watching at my leisure, content to let the green' rods wave across .my glass, if only I could be unobserved. Of course I was observed by some of the tule population. Two Coots went splashing out into the lake, another sputtered and scolded, and a Ruddy Duck rattled his castanets close by; but a Sora ran his scale unafraid and the birds out on the lake went about their business quite oblivious of me. The only ex- ceptions were due to bad breaks on my part. Once I raised up full height above the low rules, making a passing Crow caw distractedly, and sending three swimmers inside a rule wall. As I.immediately took the hint and sat down, the swimmers' came out again reassured. It was a wonderful morning to me, for I had never really seen the King of Grebes before. At the remote foot of the lake, I found his breeding grounds. A high stand of rules rods wide with indented bays and jutting rule points, of- fered safe cover for nesting colonies, while the Big Ditch, approached by a wind-