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LSAN SLI DNIHOVOUddY ‘ANIVYW ‘GNV1ISI MONG LVAAD LY ANOIOO GCAHLOALOUNd AHL NI TINO ONINAAH Vv Ud “IL “Av Ay ‘e064 yy Stade) o 7 le Soe. Ms 5S£ -AMONG THE WATER- FOWL, OBSERVATION, ADVENTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY. A POPULAR NARRA- TIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WATER-FOWL AS FOUND IN THE NORTHERN AND MIDDLE STATES AND LOWER CANADA, EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS by { ee HERBERT a JOB PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM NATURE, MOSTLY BY THE AUTHOR LONDON WM. HEINEMANN Tae Ol Or INQ AGING SEN eS, 5 et ee VG © oeut Nir Ma Abe 2 oy ; ges 00487 OCT 22 1945 “ariona wuss ‘ BBrintes by fPanhattan Press, New Work, GW. S. a oh an S16..4 TO MY WIFE WHO FIRST INVEIGLED ME INTO USING THE CAMERA THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED PREFACE Ir was the beautiful bird-pictures of Audubon that fascinated me as a child and made me love the birds and begin to watch them, such as could be found in the home garden in the suburbs of Boston. By the time that I was old enough to be trusted afield, the limits of the city became too narrow, and I began to roam abroad, seeking out the haunts of the birds. In due time I had formed a considerable acquaintance with all the familiar songsters, and many others. Soon I came to feel a special interest in the shyer and more mysterious species that the average youngster knew nothing of. ‘The Hawks and Owls were my especial delight, and to discover their nests no amount of effort was too great a price to pay. This enthusiasm soon took me to the sea-coast, where there were new worlds to conquer in the hordes of migratory Waders and strong-winged fowl of the deep, about which the books were all too silent. Audubon knew them best, but my other favourite writers seemed to have sadly neglected them. Samuels’ “ Birds of New England” I almost knew by heart, but many of my bird-favourites its author was evidently little acquainted with. Minot was intensely interesting, but he stopped short of the Water-Fowl. In pursuit of these inhabitants of shore and ocean, various were the craft that I owned and navi- Vil PREFACE gated, and many the narrow escapes. However, I am yet alive, and the Wild-Fowl have thought it best, in view of my persistency, to take me in some measure into their confidence and divulge to me some of their secrets. And now, after rounding out a full quarter-century of these pryings, on land and sea, I hope that I am not abusing the confidence of my wild friends in telling what they have taught me. ‘The Robins and Chippies, with their kin, have been popularized in books innumerable; but why should not the great Nature-loving public find also interesting and instructive the lives and ways of the Water-Fowl? In time past these have been thought of largely as targets for the gun. Perhaps they will pardon me for laying bare their lives to scrutiny, as I protest to them, upon the first occa- sion of our future meeting, that I am trying to raise up friends for them, not foes. It will mark a new era in our civilization when the now persecuted Wild-Fowl can alight in the village pond and feed in peace, the object only of friendly admiration. As yet they are fearful of that new, mysterious Cyclops with its staring eye, the camera; but I hope they may learn to recognize in it a a friend, for in thousands of hands eee taking the place of the gun. Far be it from me to ae that there are legitimate uses for the dead bird. But owing to relentless, short-sighted slaughter, hitherto carried on, it is coming to be a question of birds or no birds. Every true sportsman will practise great moderation in the capture of game, and every thought- ful lover of wild life stand for its protection. Exer- cise afield and contact with Nature are invaluable, Viil PREFACE but require an incentive. If the destruction of life can be minimized by the finding of some satisfac- tory substitute for the gun, no one will be the loser. Such a substitute I myself have found in the camera, which fully satisfies my hunter’s instinct. Far more skill and resource are required to photo- graph a wild creature than to shoot it, and the pic- ture, when secured, is, ordinarily, of far greater value than a few mouthfuls of flesh. As I recall successful shots at fowl from the gunning-stand, I would give much to have the pictures now to en- thuse me, in exchange for fleeting memory. Would it not be wise policy to interest our boys in Nature- study, and the camera as applied to it, and discour- age shooting at living things? Real acquaintance with a harmless and beautiful wild creature, I can testify, makes one less and less disposed to take its life. Hence I would most cordially commend to my fellow sportsmen and bird-lovers this noble instru- ment. An expensive outfit is entirely unnecessary. In case my own experience may be of any encour- agement, let me say that all my pictures in this book were taken with an ordinary 4 by 5 focusing camera, rapid rectilinear lens, and bellows of 12 inches draw, that cost me less than $20. I consider the 4 by 5 size just right for field work. Equipped with such a camera and any good make of rapid plates, with a little careful study and practice of photographic method, following out some such plans afield as are described in this and other volumes, joined with real love for the birds and Nature, there is no reason why anyone may not succeed better 1X PREFACE than I have done. I only hope that my work may help extend the growing enthusiasm for Nature- study, and that the simple narrative of my personal observations, written without any assumption of technical learning, may interest many in my friends, the Water-Fowl. Though my experiences, as narrated, have been largely in the northern portions of the country, they characterize almost equally well the Water-Fowl of the middle districts, and the species mentioned, wherever found. Owing to exigencies of space, many of the illustrations are reduced in size from the original photographs; where there has been ap- preciable enlargement, the fact and degree are noted. Companions in the field and other friends have generously placed at my disposal even more of their pictures than could be need supplying certain gaps in my material, and I wish herewith to express my Ae acknowledemients to. Miessisy A Ge Bent, C. $8. Day, Owen Bunt Rev. «C. J. Young, oh L. Baily, W. H. Fisher and H. A. Shaw. HerBert K. Jos. Kent, Connecticut, March, 1902. ABER OF CON DEN TS PART 1i.—THE SUBMERGED TENTH Grebes and Loons Among Colonies of the American Eared Grebe . The Great City of the Western Grebe Holboell’s, Horned and Pied-billed Grebes Grebes Breeding in the East ; their habits in autumn and winter Loons on Sea and Lake The Breeding-haunts of the Loons PART II.—MODERN CLIFF-DWELLERS Gannets, Guillemots, Auks, Pufiins, Kittiwakes, etc. Glimpses of the Magdalen Islands The Bird Rocks : Second Day on Great Bird Rock Third Day, and the Trip to North Bird Rock Last Observations on the Rock Further Researches on Other Islands of the Magdalen Group Other Cliff-Dwellers Breeding on the Coast of Maine After the Breeding Season ; winter along the coast PART III.—OCEAN WANDERERS Shearwaters, Jegers or Skuas, Petrels, Phalaropes Summer Ocean Birds off Cape Cod . Photographing the Ocean Wanderers x1 50-52 53-64 64-73 73-80 81-83 83-86 86-90 91-96 97-107 | LO7—Lid CONTENTS PAGES Jeger Days ~ 115-120 Among the Phalaropes . 120-124 The Nesting of the Ocean Wanderers; visits to the breeding- grounds of Leach’s Petrel . ;. D24=126 PART IV.—THE WHITE-WINGED FLEET Gulls and Terns Visits to Herring Gull Islands along the Atlantic Coast . 1Z0=139 Tern Colonies and Habits in the East . 139-144 Other Gulls on the Eastern Coasts . 144-146 The ‘‘ Enchanted Isles,’’ North Dakota; colonies of Double- crested Cormorants, Ring-billed Gulls and Common Terns 146-157 A Great Colony of the Franklin’s Rosy Gull; breeding and other habits of the Black Tern; the American White Pelican . 157-169 PART V.—WILD FOWL OF WILD FOWL Ducks and Geese A Tour in North Dakota among Breeding Ducks and Geese . 170-189 Breeding of the Later Ducks on the Return Trip . 189-196 Tree-nesting Ducks in North Dakota . 196-200 Subsequent Trip to North Dakota, and Further Discoveries . 201-206 The Breeding-Habits of Ducks in the East, from the Magdalen Islands to Southern New England . : . 206-213 Habits of the Wild-Fow! in Southern New England after the Nesting Season; gunning-stands and the fowl that visit the ponds . 213=2R8 Sea-coast Fowl; habits, modes of capture, migrations » 200.224 Xil LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Franklin’s Rosy Gulls in flight. Cover picture. ae Herring Gull approaching nest (x 2) . : ; Frontisptece Mounted Loons and Grebes_ . : : : : ; : 2 American Eared Grebe Colony . : : : . . 4 Other nests of the Eared Grebes_. ‘ : : : ely EO Franklin’s Rosy Gull eating Eared Grebe’s Eggs. : sy) ste Eared Grebe’s by their nests . : . : : : 5 he Nest of Western Grebe . ; ; ; : : ; : D7 A Western Grebe-colony scene 3 : j . : sy eirk TO) A Western Grebe . : : 5 ° : : «20 A group of Eared Grebes (x 1 4) : : : : ; Su iifig 2 A Western Grebe (x2) . : : : : : : Spaces Another Western Grebe (x 2) ; ; ; : : 2G Still another Western Grebe (x 3) . : : ve 26 Nest of Holboell’s Grebe : : : : : : ve Lz Nest of Pied-billed Grebe, or Dabchick . : ‘ ; a 430 Covered nest of the Dabchick . : : : : 5 s ueael Nest and young of Horned Grebe . ; : : : hoary Nest and eggs of Horned Grebe. : : ’ : sete ais Floating nest of Loon. : . : 5 : : Pe ee) Nest of Loon on stony shore . : : : : : Sones Site of preceding Loon’s nest . : : : : : . ‘ ; : : : 29 Meadowlark, Western , ; : : : : : I Merganser, American. : : : : : : ZEO, 21S Hooded . ; ? : : ; 200, 206, 210, 218 Red-breasted : 207-208, 210, 219, 221, 223 Mink 3 : : 3 : a7 Mother Carey’s Cheeene (See enone Murre, EO 5 S5es 5s On OL, 02;005,00, 7.25 70-77, 60,007 92004 Brunnich’s ¢ : : ; : 60, 65, 93, 95-96 Common . : : : : : 5 SLO O58 O15 Ringed é : 4 : ‘ : , , : 66 Muskrat : : : : : 2 - 24-25, 48 Noddy, (See TSE) Xx INDEX PAGE Old-squaw 3 : ; : é 206, 217, 219-221, 223 Oriole : : ’ : ; : : : ; . 4 Osprey : : ; : : : “ : : : 85 Owl, Long-eared : . : ; : : A 82 Parrot, Sea, (See Puffin ) Pelican, White . ; E ; , : ; : 168-169 Petrel : : ; . IOI-102, 104-108, I10, 113, 121, 134 eachs7) &: : 64, 72-73, IOI-102, 104-106, 124-129 Stormy ; : : : : : , “| whee Wilson’s.. 5 : ‘ é IOI-102, 108, 114, I17 Phalarope . : 5 : 3 ; : 5 : 120-123 Northern : : - - ° ; : 120-132 Red ; : : ; : : i : 126,122 Wilson’s. : : : : - Io Pigeon, Sea, (See Black Gunlienes) Pintail : : : . 171, 175-178, 189, 191-193, 206, 215 Plover : : ‘ . : : ‘ 3 : : 84 Golden : ; : A 5 ‘ : <8 Bea Puffin ‘ : ~ 51, 53, 59.00, 66-68, 72,°51, ee 91, 93, 95 Rail ae : 5 ; : : : : : . 166;4208 Raven, Northern : : . : . 84-87, 138 Redhead Pg biiy iyi a on a I9I, 196, 202-204, 206, 21%, 245 Robin : : ; : : ; ‘ ‘ ‘ 4 Sandpiper. : : : : : : : i420. ren Spotted. : : : 3 : : ee Sapsucker. : : ; ‘ : ; : : 29 Scoter ‘ : : : : : : 206, 217, 221,228 American, or Black . : ‘ : : : 222-22 Surf : ; 4 : : : 217, 222-22 White-winged . ; : . 189-195, 201-202, 206, 217 Sea Goose, (See Phalarope) Sea Hen, (See Jaeger ) Shearwater : » 99-101, 105-106, 110, 112-113, 117, 125 Corey’s 5 : . : . : 5 : 102-103 Greater p , : IOI-102, 108-112, 115-116 Sooty : : : 99, 103, 108, 115-116 Shelldrake, or shell. or Shell duck, (See ee Shoveller, or Shoveler I71, 177, 183, 185, 1O1—"92, 202, 200,/a06 XX INDEX Skua, (See Jaeger) Sparrow Savanna . A Song : : : ° White-throated ‘ ; Swallow, Barn Tree Swan Teal Blue- winged Green-winged Tern . a : 65, 84, 108, 115-117, 130, 135, Arctic Black Common . : 140. 142, 153-156, 162, 189, Least Roseate , : Wilson’s, (See Common) ‘Ting-tang, (See Holboell’s Grebe) ‘Turnstone Yellowlegs ; Warbler, Mourning Water Witch, (See Grebe) Whale, Fin-back . ‘ : Whale-bird (See Phalarope) Whistler, (See Golden-eye) Widgeon, American, (See Baldpate) Willet : Woodpecker, Downy Wren, House XX1 U7, 1775880, 182 1, OW, 29, 127-128 185, LOE; Pen 140, PAGE 30 29 168 206, 209 IQI, 209 188, 191 144-145 139-142 166—168 IgI, 208 143-144 143 -. = svi) << A ere oe i . ha _ i aa ® +a e r 7 j ii ia f iy > \ j > ) ee " ‘ ’ ¢ 4 Lhe We” Epi a: ri a! , pF 7 7 a2 Ds 9 as Le ah v7 i i 1’: . " a ie > wee. 7 af AMONG THE WATER-FOWL LEE SUBMERGED: WE Ne (Grebes and Loons) » (HE seventh day of a recent June found i] me, with a companion, driving over the sun-baked, fire-scorched prairie of North Dakota, within a few miles of the international boundary. For miles no settler’s shack had been sighted to break the solitude. No pioneer had yet overturned the sod and sown his wheat, or erected the ugly barbed wire fence to compel travel “‘on section lines.”’ Not even a wagon-trail offered its suggestion of a better way. We were free to consult ihe compass, and lay our course, as though at sea, over the virgin prairie, that had remained just as the Buffalo had left it. Though the scenery was monotonous, there was a certain fascination in jogging along over this billowy grass in the crisp, stimulating air, eae the frequent glimpses of birds and animal life. Ducks Hew out from the little wet depressions. A covey of cock Pinnated Grouse whirred away from a weedy spot. Meadowlarks, Longspurs, Sparrows Ole eat Horned Larks were nearly always in sight, with Black ‘Terns flitting about. At any time we were liable to see a Coyote slinking off in the distance, a Badger dozing by its oles OW, COmstant ae |lack- Rabbit and see it speed away with ts leaps. Gophers scurried to their burrows, and disappeared with that comical little whisk of the tail that always forces me to an inward smile. I MOTHOAVG UO AGAAD GATII-ddId HaaAD S TIHAORATIOH LINGV ‘NOOT Lvauod NOOT G4LVOUHL-daa AUYNLVNWI “NOOT LVauaD SHYNLVAAD YVINONIS AHL FO SNAYOY AHL ONIMOHS—SHaaaL) GNV SNOO’TT GHLINNOJT THE SUBMERGED TENTH We were driving from our camp on the wind- swept plain by Rush Lake to a small lake, or “slough,” some miles farther to the west, which a settler had told us swarmed with birds. At length it lay before us, a third of a mile of open water, with a large grassy island in the centre. Many Ducks, Coots and Grebes were in sight; but on the shore of the island were the most birds flock fairly darkening the area. Not being able to decide from that distance what they were, I resolved to wade out to them. Now Dakota “sloughs’’—as marshy ponds are there called, pronounced ‘sloo”’ generally quite shallow; but a few steps into this one made it evi- dent that boots here were of no avail. It was pretty cold to strip for the task, and the water felt like ice; but the prospect of getting out in the sun upon the shore of the island before coming back de- cided me in favour of the project and I started in. At every step difficulties increased. The water be- came breast deep, and was filled from bottom to surface with decaying vegetation. After every half dozen steps I had to stop and clear myself from the great island that had collected about me. For fifteen minutes I struggled on, chilled, but intent upon reaching the sunny island shore, where I could don the garment I held up out of the water, and examine at my leisure the many nests which I expected to find. As I came to the edge of an area of long grass that had hidden from me what was beyond, a won- derful sight met my eyes. The water seemed liter- ally alive with birds, swimming or floating upon its 3 a great AMONG THE WaATER-FOWL surface. Sprinkled about eve:ywhere among them were what looked like ay mounds. Upon nearly every mound sat a bird. As they saw me, some slid off into the water, while others industriously pecked at something. “ighen it dawned upon me—lI had found a breeding colony of the American Eared Grebe. ‘The mounds were nests, and the birds were covering their eggs, as is their custom, to hide them from an intruder. Soon I was right in the midst of the Grebe city. But such wet, untidy, uncomfortable homes they were, as contrasted with the warm, soft, downy beds that Ducks prepare, the substantial structure of the Robin, or the elaborately-woven pouch of the Oriole! I felt that I was in the slums of bird-dom. Here was the problem of the submerged class of their society. But who, after all, would be the happier should the Grebe ascend from the bottom round of the ladder of classification, and, forsaking his fish relations and his habits of submergence, make a cleaner nest ashore, and waddle awkwardly on dry land? At my approach the Grebes all left their nests, though in some cases the anxious owners lingered to cover their treasures until I was almost upon them. This enabled me to watch carefully the whole process. The bird arose from a prostrate position upon the eggs, and assumed one more or less upright, squatting upon the rump, to one side of the eggs. Reaching over, she seized with the bill a piece of floating grass close at hand, and laid it across them. Sometimes she would fish out quite a bunch at oné haul. If possible shemkepieag at 4 THr SUBMERGED TENTH until the eggs were entirely hidden, when she would slide off into the water with a push of the feet that gave quite a little momentum. Some of them dove at once and came up a short distance away, while others remained on the surface. The fact of my having only head and shoulders out of water evi- desde made them less afraid of me than they would have been had I been in a boat. The birds were more or less scattered about in the lake, yet groups of them remained within a few feet of me, appar- ently trying to make out what new species of Musk- rat this cana be. I should judge that there must have been up- wards of a hundred nests right around me, and how many more there were off in the grass I cannot say. Certainly it was a large colony, Fog. the whole slough seemed alive with Grebes, and all of the one species. The nests were floating quite close together, often touching one another. ‘There was very little grass growing out of the water, and the nests were not anchored, except as they rested more or less on the floating debris. This held them in a measure, but it seemed likely that a strong wind might drive them from their location. Most of the nests were covered, and I bobbed about among them, removing the coverings to see how many eggs there were. It was evident that the laying operations of the colony were not complete, for some of the nests were empty, or had but a single egg. Only two that I saw had as many as is eggs, three or four being the usual number. | These observations made, I stayed for nothing further; indeed haste was necessary, for my sunny 5 AMONG THE WaTER-FowL isle, whereon I had hoped to warm myself, proved to be a delusion; and I realized that submersion did not make me a Grebe, for I was already shud- dering with the cold. So, hurriedly placing a tew sets. of eggs in’ the creel thatol had dragged out over the water, I reluctantly returned from my bird- slumland, and made for the shore, which I finally reached, shivering and shuddering, after being three- quarters of an hour in the icy water. Though it was an uncomfortable experience, I was more than repaid by what I had seen. My one sorrow was that it was impracticable to use the camera. Rush Lake is an area some twelve miles long and four wide, with water only waist deep, out of which grows long grass and occasional patches of tall rushes. Years ago, it is said to have been entirely open, but now even an open lane is a Fanityen ree settler piloted us to it the first day. After walking a mile or more, he suddenly announced—“ Well, here we are.” ‘But where is the lake,” I asked, looking perplexedly over the grassy plain? “This is it, right before you,’ was the reply. My first feeling was of great disappointment, but as Ducks of all sorts began to fly out in squadrons along the margin, I was soon reassured. The day after the Grebe colony incident, I spent the morning alone near the west end of Rush Lake; if end, indeed there was, my friend agreeing to drive the team up for me after dinner. In time, I waded out to quite an open lead of water, adjoining which many Coots had their nests in the grass. Over near the other side were fifty or more Eared Grebes swimming about, evidently another colony. 6 SLINGHLINOO WIXHL TVHAONOD OL SSvVuao Gvad HLIM SYANMO AHL AG CAUAAOSD ‘SODA HLIM LSAN V SI SGNQNOW ONILVOTE ATLLIT ASAHL AO HOVE “ANOTOO F2d#adad GHAVA NVOIYANV AHL JO LavVd AMONG THE WaTeR-FowL This time I was determined not to be thwarted. So, when my companion appeared, we drove back, hitched the bow of a canoe to the back of the w agon and, after dragging it more than a mile over rough, wet ground, I managed to get afloat in it with camera and all needed apparatus. As I came within sight of the Grebes, they sank like stones, a submerged company indeed, for I saw them no more, save for an occasional head thrust momentarily out of the water to reconnoitre. One of them I saw swim under the boat, only a little way below the surface. It used wings and feet as oars, and was indeed flying through the water. But what of the nests? GE one could I find, though I explored the edges of the open water all aroma and penetrated into elie grass in every direction. No photographs of Grebe colonies was it that season my lot to take. But the time came when this ambition was grati- fied. Late last June I was encamped, with three companions, upon the timbered shore of another large Dakota lake. One morning, we were poling a heavy boat, the only one available, through a maze of grass growing out of four feet of water, far out from shore. Another push, and we glided to a partial opening, where a wonderful sight greeted us. We-had run -with (our ‘beat almost into a large colony of American Eared» ‘Grebes, (eur prising the ‘birds right upon their nests. Perhaps they had heard ohana to arouse their suspicions, for they were in the act of covering their eggs. But no sooner did they see our heads over the grass than there was a general plunge, which sounded like the beating of a rain-squall as it first strikes a body of 8 Tue SUBMERGED TENTH water. Every Grebe dove; but in a few moments we saw them emerge in large numbers out in the open water beyond. Here were the slums of a larger Grebe city than I had seen before, and this time I was in better con- dition to inspect it. ‘There were over a hundred of the little wet mounds close together in a compact area, and no knowing how many more further in through the grass. i did not like to push the boat in, as it would involve the overturning and destruc- tion of a great many nests, so was content with a somewhat superficial examination of the colony. The birds had been able in every case to cover their eggs before retreating. Pulling off the layer of wet debris from a number of the nearer nests, we found that the usual number of the eggs was three, the largest five. Other nests were empty, or with only one or two eggs. Then as we looked off, we saw, some distance away, hosts of other Grebes sitting or standing upon their floating nests, and realized that what we were inspecting was only the suburbs of the real city. Toward this we directed the boat. The Grebes, seeing us approach, slid off into the water while we were still at quite a distance, and in squadrons paddled out farther into the lake. Reaching the place, we found that a lane of water, “ Broadway,” I called it, divided the city into an east and west side. On the ““castcide, alone the edge of a-tract of grass, the nests were crowded, four or five deep, for some distance. A mass of them, perhaps about thirty, extended in a sort of neck out into the open water. Conditions here, as might be expected, were 9 oe en on A Sia hiss GaaddAOO SODA AHL ‘ANOTOO AHAUND GAUAVA ANVS AHL AO NOILOUS YAHLONV 10 THe SUBMERGED TENTH simply scandalous. Eggs lay rotting in the watery streets, in one spot as many as fifteen together, the result, probably, either of a storm or a squabble. Debris of all sorts was strewn around with utter in- difference to the public health. The houses were low, untidy affairs, reeking with water and decay, huddled together in hopeless confusion. So unstable is their foundation that quite a mass of them had drifted off in some storm, and were scattered about, overgrown with green scum, the eggs washed and bleached by the overlapping water. Conditions on the “west side’ were hardly better. The congestion was even worse. Nests in close contact formed a considerable area, extending in through the sparse grass to some more open water. It seems to me that the nests in these Grebe cities are smaller and more slovenly built than where a pair build a solitary nest. The wonder is how such flimsy affairs can keep the eggs and the in- cubating birds above water. The husband evi- dently has to lead a street life, with little to occupy him Sexcept to! pick’ up food, and, receive the youngsters, which hatch one by one, and swim off as soon as they are born. Perhaps he may antici- pate the mother’s task, and ride the little waits around on his back. When at last we retired with the boat, the Grebes swam back. Some resumed incubation, while others in parties promenaded up and down « Broadway,” in some cases taking their children, that had been hiding away in the grass, out for a ride. It was an odd sight to see the crop of little heads sticking out from under the parent’s wing. 11 AMONG THE WaTER-FowL Before leaving, I found it easy to photograph these areas of nests from the boat by snap-shots, but a very different matter to have any of the Grebes in the pictures, as they were quite shy of the boat. Finding that they w ould not come near enough for a snap- shot, I stood up an old tripod, with a focus cloth over the top, im the grass a little ‘back fromthe ‘east side,’ leaving it for the birds to become accustomed to the sight. Next day, the wind was raging, and my companions did not think I could carry out my plan of getting out there alone in the boat to spend the day by the colony. After a long, desperate effort I managed to reach it. The bide were mostly on their nests, ignoring the tripod. The pathway to success now seemed easy; but thorny did it prove. Moving the tripod a little nearer to the nests, I adjusted the camera, attached the spool of thread, and allowed the boat to drift off to leeward, paying out the line. So busy was I that I had not roetoetl a gathering squall, that just at this untimely juncture str rhell Nouan with furious blast. The shutter was sprung, and I had to lose the end of the thread, not being able to check the progress ot the boat in time. As it was, the camera was nearly pulled or blown over into the water. Nothing but the fact that I had spliced poles to the legs of the tripod and driven them firmly into the qa pre- vented what would have been to me out there in the wilderness an irreparable disaster. ‘Then ensued a mighty struggle to get back to the camera to pro- tect it from the rain. It was almost impossible for one person alone to push that clumsy boat through the tangle of grass and slime against ‘the wind, biel 12 =< Tue SUBMERGED TENTH finally accomplished it, pulled the precious instru- ment on board, covered it with the rubber cloth, and let the rain beat down. ‘ After the shower had passed, I proceeded to arrange the camera again. Learning wisdom by experience, I pushed the boat across to the opposite side of the area of grass where the nests were—a distance of about the length ot my thread—planted a pole firmly in the freday bottom, tied the thread to it, and then poled back to the camera with the otlier end of the thread, which I fastened to the shutter. In this way there was less danger of pull- ing the thread prematurely, or of getting it en- tangled in the grass. ‘Then I rowed around to the pole by way of the open water, tied the boat to the pole, and lay down on the bottom, thread in hand, to await developments. After quite a while the Grebes began to swim back in small parties, and promenade up and down “Broadway.” ‘Two of them approached their nests, and climbed up awkwardly upon them. The purpose was to cover their eggs more perfectly than in their haste they had done when the boat was approaching. As soon as this had been accom- plished, they slid off into the water and rejoined their companions. Unfortunately they were not quite in the range of the camera, so I lost a splendid chance for an interesting picture. I thought that in the course of things they would all go rele but time passed, and not Bother one did so. ib ire lle I rowed over there and uncovered some of the eggs, hoping that this would induce the owners to come and cover them. AMONG THE WATER-FOowL Though I did not succeed in this, the effort was not wholly in vain, for through it I learned the reason for this habit. ‘This breeding colony of the Eared Grebes closely adjoined a far larger one of thousands of the Franklin’s Rosy Gull. Hardly ee eae ee EES IR See Sate) eI I © aca aE oan os eT Bs Pere Bee. %| Sion te: Me Je ER i A FRANKLIN'S ROSY GULL EATING EGGS OF EARED GREBE, ON “ BAST SIDE.”’ THE OWNER WATCHING. had I returned to my anchorage, when a Gull alit upon one of the nests which ii iid uncovered, and proceeded to pierce the eggs with its bill and devour the contents. I pulled the string and exposed plate upon this interesting procedure. The picture 4 Tor SUBMERGED TENTH shows the Gull with its bill thrust down into an egg, and a single Grebe in the water just beyond watching attentively what was probably the spolia- tion of its home. Perhaps it was fear of the camera that prevented the naturally expected attack upon the marauder. Another plate had then to be inserted, which I finally exposed when a party of Grebes were swimming by, just in front of the nests. These were the only two pictures secured in the greater part of a day of hard labour and nerve- -wearing toil. After this the thread became almost hopelessly tangled, and, despite long, exasperating effort, I got only another fogged plate at about sundown. And it was the last chance, too. Then, as I was taking up the camera, at eight o’clock and after, it dawned upon me that I had forgotten to eat my dinmer, though I had it with me in the boat. When I returned to camp almost at dark, the com- pany made merry over a fellow so much interested in birds that he needed a caretaker to remind him when he must eat. <“‘ A veritable rustic,’ perhaps the Grebes had been saying, staring all day, open- mouthed and absent-minded, at the sights of their great city. Within ten miles of this spot was another equally interesting, though very different Grebe-city. Extending far out from the shore, in water waist deep or more, grew a great area of canes, ten or twelve feet high. To get at it from where we had pitched our tent, I had first to wade across an arm 15 “WUIOM S AVG GUVH V LSOO LVHL Guan LoIld V “SISGN WIGDHL YVAN SHRHAD GAAVA 16 THE SUBMERGED JENTH of the lake, shoulder deep. Then, after walking a mile along the shore of the Jake, clad in a suit of underwear for protection against an abounding poisonous water-plant, I forced my way in through the thicket of canes. About a hundred yards from thesshore: il yentered “the suburbs “of the city in- habited by the Western Grebe—a great loon-like ONE OF THE MANY NESTS OF THE WESTERN GREBE creature, the largest species of the order—and the Eared Grebe. In the shadow of the tall canes I seemed to be in some sort of a submerged tropical forest. The leaves of the canes were thicker towards the top, while lower down the stems were bare, like miniature palm-trunks, through which one could see only for a few feet. In this shady retreat, floating between the stems, were the nests of the Grebes, on the average about two yards apart. 7 AMONG THE WaTER-FOWL As I slowly waded along, I could hear a constant succession of splashing, plunging sounds, as the birds dove from their nests to swim off under water. When I stood still for a few moments, they would return and suddenly emerge, sometimes within a yard of me, only to plunge again the instant they caught sight of the intruder. These grebe-homes, especially of the larger species, were quite seni affairs. Even the little ““Eared”’ fellows made better nests than in the other city where they were so huddled together. Possibly they were trying not to be outdone by the « Westerners, > or else the latter, who were in the majority, had enacted certain building regulations within the city limits! Yet, though the homes were larger, it was evident hat they belonged to the lower classes of bird society. This city, like the other, was shametully dirty. Eggs and even dead bias lay rotting in the water between the nests. The odour was so unpleasant as almost to nauseate our guide, who afterwards ventured in with me. As for myself, I was so much taken up with the novelty of the situation that the “ mind- cure” effectually performed its work. How far the city extended, and what was its population, I made no great effort to ascertain, as even a moderate degree of progress was very dif- ficult. Wherever I went there were nests, acres and acres of them. In parts of the town the larger species dwelt alone; in others the nests of the two kinds were intermingled in about equal numbers. Three eggs was the usual complement in the nests of both species, often four, but more than that I did 18 ATNGUGGNAS SVH Saadauo GAL YaLVYM tO AN O AHL WOWd AaSYAaWA “A NOTOD d2adaad NAALSAM aH NI aN CLONS GIN DIGS, 19 tng ) PARK or ACHE IEN A IN WESTERN GREBE A 20 THE SUBMERGED TENTH not discover, except where a Grebe of either kind had laid in a nest of the other. It would be inter- esting to know what is the state of mind that causes various species of birds that colonize together to lay in each other’s nests. It may be through mistake, yet, 4s Im the “present, case, when the eggs of one kind are twice the size of the other, it seems as though the bird would detect the difference. I can imagine, on the other hand, that the little Grebe might find the larger nest attractive, but not so readily what the big Grebe thinks as it finds the smaller home which it has usurped about sinking under its weight. There were no street-signs in the city, and, though city bred, I found myself rustic enough to be in danger of getting lost in the colymbine (Colymbus) labyrinths. As luck would have it, the usual daily June thunder-shower (of this season) came up before I was half through my exploration. Covering the camera and plates with the rubber cloth, my upper half was soon as wet as the rest. For a considerable time the sun was obscured. There was no way of looking over the tops of the Canesmtonmote the direction of the shore, and [| might have wandered about there indefinitely, had not the welcome sun again shone forth. Next time I brought a compass, and felt more secure. Here and there in this city were pond-like openings in the canes, with open water, the city parks, I ‘called them—breathing- places fer the Grebe-multitudes. Standing in water waist-deep or more by one of these, I shivered and watched the ways of the Grebes. This opening was some thirty 2T 4 GREBES EARED OPENING THE THE OF GROUP A SMALL THEN AND WOULD NOW fe »” ACROSS PADDLE GREBE RN A WESTE cal N AMONG THE WaTER-FowL feet in diameter, and was surrounded by nests in the adjacent canes. ‘The owners had been frightened away, but, as I stood quietly, they would emerge from the open water as a convenient place for more extended observation, take a look at me, and then dive. I found that by standing back a little in the canes they did not notice me so much, and, some- what reassured, would promenade across the park, back and forth. Now and then, a small group of the Eared Grebes would swim out from the reeds, gaze around, and paddle across the opening. One of these Grebes brought out a chick for a ride. The little one was under the parent’s wing, only its head sticking out, seemingly having a fine time. Then one of the great Western Grebes would break water, and swim with only its long slender white neck out, and the merest suggestion of a back, look- ing more like a water-snake thana bird. Here was an opportunity for Grebe-photography which I eagerly improved. Planting the tripod at the edge of the canes, I arranged the camera, using the ampliscope lens to secure a larger image, and focused on the further side of the park, where most of the Grebes appeared. ‘Then, with a thread attached to the shutter, I retired a few paces, and took snaps at various Grebes of both sorts, till gathering clouds compelled me to desist. I had been wondering what was the cause of the evident destruction of life in the Grebe-city. As I stood there motionless in the canes, a partial solu- tion was suggested. A nest of the Western Grebe with one egg lay almost within arm’s reach. Sud= denly a large Muskrat emerged close by, and 24 ANOTHER WESTERN GREBE STILL ANOTHER WESTERN GREBE iLHEy SUBMERGED EENTH crawled out upon the nest. First he glanced around, and though looking right at me, did not seem either to perceive or to care—I could not tell which. Next he smelled the egg all over, poking it with his nose. I thought I would now catch him red- handed. But either the animal was looking for something else, or scented danger, for directly he ambled down to the water’s edge and plunged. Muskrat houses were numerous, and it is hard not to suspect the occupants of enjoying something more than a vegetable diet. If guilty, however, Minks may also have a share in shedding Grebe- bleed: By this time I was chilled and shivering, began the retreat, and, after two hours and a half of exposure, was glad to set foot on dry land. The Grebes had a splendid city, no doubt, according to their ideas, but I did not envy them at all their happy, slovenly ways, or their wet civic prosperity. Another interesting jaunt was into the Turtle Mountain country, the wooded area of Dakota, some two thousand square miles of low, rolling, rocky hills, covered with a growth largely of poplar. Every hollow between these hills is occu- pied by a lake, varying in size from “ Fish Lake ”’ in the interior, a number of miles in length, down to little ponds of a few acres. They are entirely different from the marshy, shallow prairie lakes, or sloughs, being clear and deep, with pebbly bottoms though there are a very few that resemble the sloughs. The woods grow nearly or quite to the waters edge, and there is a border of round- 27 AMONG THE WaTER-FOowL stemmed reeds for a few yards, out)” ‘hey pare much like the typical New England pond, and, like them, have—comparatively—few water-fowl. There are some, however, and one of the most characteristic I found tobe the Jarge -Elclboells Grebe, the only Grebe, in fact, that I saw in the region. I met them only in solitary pairs, nesting in the outer edge of the reeds on the shores of the ponds. One of the: “first. bards that I noticed as we drove in from the prairie was one of these Grebes swim- ming in a small pond near some reedy clumps. Next) -c-anaaat walked back there. The bird was on guard, NEST OF HOLBOELL’S GREBE and its mate swam out from the reeds at my approach. There was the nest amid the reeds in about three feet of water, a large floating pile of wet, decayed stems. ‘The five dirty white eggs, as large again as those of the Eared Grebe, were covered. With some drift-wood I managed to arrange a stand- ing place, from which I photographed the nest. Usually but one pair was found in a small pond, and when, in the larger ones, there were several, 28 Pe SUBMERGED TENTH no two nests were very near together. The habit of the birds on these clear ies of patrolling near the nest renders this very easy to find. I liked to stand still, nearly hidden in the reeds, and see the graceful lovers, close together, glide in so near to me that I could note every Bead of plumage and motion. The red patches on the sides of the neck fairly glowed in the sun, as though they might easily do the same at night of their own radiance. During my stay in the Turtle Mountains, I found several nests of the Holboell’s Grebe. One was of more than ordinary interest. I saw the bird swim out from the reeds, as usual, and right there was the nest, with three eggs and the two segments of the shell of a hatched egg. The youthful occu- pant had evidently just emerged, and ‘there it was in the water, trying to follow its mother. I waded farther out, and the little fellow, either in confu- sion, or seeking a friend, swam back to me, looking up into my face. I picked it up, a curious tiger- striped thing, so long and slim that it reminded me of a weasel. Then I replaced it in the nest, but at the first opportunity it scrambled out, and dis- appeared among the reeds. In two of fhe eges I could hear the young chirping. I went back to camp for dinner, and then re- turned to the Grebes’ nest. On the way I investi- gated the home of some Purple Martins in a Flickers’ hole, well up a tall, slippery poplar stub, finding, after a hard struggle, hat the nest nba’ five eggs. ‘This species, Barn and Tree Swallows, Bronzed Grackles, Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, House Wrens and Red- tailed Hawks I 29 AMONG THE WaTER-FOWL found to be the common species of the poplar growth, with a few Sparrow Hawks, Song and White-throated Sparrows, Mourning Warblers, and doubtless other small birds, sprinkled in. No more of the Grebes’ eggs, I fond: had hatched, but the loose egg-shells were gone, as was the youngster. One of the shells I ee about ten yards from the nest, foatime yi ty? Ni a | | among the reeds, iW " MAA) whither the old xi ni. Et Wa * \y} bird, no doubt, ? SVB had carried it. Thre Vatcere Grebe seems not very common in Dakota, though I met it sparingly in the larger fresh water lakes. But everywhere in the rairie sloughs NEST OF PIED-BILLED GREBE, NORTH DAKOTA one meets the familiar Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, as well as the Eared. I did not find these first two in colonies, but each pair nesting by itself, usually well out in the deepest water. One day I was exploring a large slough in a boat that I had carted miles for the pur- pose, when I came upon a small Grebes’ nest with one egg, out in nearly open water, anchored to a few stems of grass. Quite near it was a Horned Grebe that probably was the owner. The wind was violent, and the waves were breaking over the nest all the time. Probably other eggs had been 30 THe SUBMERGED IENTH washed out, for it was late in the nesting season— nearly the last of June. ‘This must be a very com- mon occurrence, for the Grebe will not learn wisdom. Yet even though the creature itself be submerged, it is hardly to be supposed that sub- merged eggs will hatch, or that the deluge here in BO \ ESF, L3G: S | ‘ ae ” - ANOTHER PIED-BILLED GREBE'S NEST WITHIN A FEW RODS OF PRE-= CEDING, CONTAINING NINE EGGS, AS COVERED BY THE OWNER. BY Ac ¢. BENT progress was altogether pleasing to the otherwise contented “ Water-witch,” unless for the fact that the surviving egg was much cleaner than usual. It is no easy matter to identify scattered single nests of the smaller Grebes. Seldom, except in colonies, have I been able to see a Grebe actually on the nest. A very common and well-known I Ww AMONG THE WaTER-FoOwWL habit of theirs is, on warm days, to cover the eggs with wet debris, and leave them for the sun, and the heat generated by the decaying vegetation, to act upon. And it is remarkable how generally they hatch, | But it is not true of any species thatthey never incubate on warm days. In one instance I saw a Horned Grebe on its nest in early afternoon. Many a time I have come upon single nests whose eggs were uncovered and very warm. There is almost invariably, in such cases, a protecting screen of rushes, and the bird evidently has just slipped off before being seen. However, in one way or other, the owner of the nest is almost sure to be out of sight when the observer approaches. Sometimes the three smaller kinds all nest intermingled in one slough, and then the contusion is nearly hopeless. The only way to identify them is to hide some distance away and watch. After a time one or both owners may appear, and, by patrolling near the nest, show their interest and decide the ownership. If the number of eggs is large, they are quite apt to belong to the Dabchick, as they probably do anyhow, if the locality is in the eastern United States. Still, I have known the Horned Grebe to lay as many as seven. Last summer I was in a slough where the Dabchick abounded, and I found the largest Grebe-set in my experience—of nine eogs. . Pive or stmiseems te be the usual number for that species to lay, four or five for the Horned, and three or four tor the others. The time was when I supposed that Grebes were very silent creatures. But camping by a little Tur SUBMERGED TENTH open lake which was frequented by a pair of Horned Grebes, I was able to trace to their author- ship certain loud cries of whose origin I had been uncertain. [he sounds began as a quick chatter, ending with several prolonged notes that I can only describe as yells. They seemed to keep up this noise all night, for I often lay awake listening to it, not disturbed, but thoroughly enjoying it, thinking how fortunate I was to be living in such good com- pany! By day, when the water was pada I could see flocks of Grebes out on the larger lake near by, and hear from them the same or similar quaverings. First one would cry out, then another would take up the strain, and still others, until there was noise enough for the most ardent lover of bird-choruses. mn) mo)less;speculiar are wthe- cries: of the big Western Grebe, which I heard on all sides as I waded about through their colony in the canes. They are utterly different from the notes just de- scribed—a shrill, grating trill, not nearly so loud, with a eaerallic spoils. allan one ‘keyslike: an ‘