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July, 1912 NOTES ON WADING BIRDS OF BARR LAKE REGION, COLORADO 121 dence until early August. In the large number of nests examined were found wide variation in construction and location. Most of the nests were built well out toward the edge of the cattails over water three or four feet deep, others were built in close to shore in very dense cattail thickets. One nest was found built on dry ground, another fully two feet above the ground on a platfomi of dead cattails, with a neat rim-way leading up to it; aud still another nest fully four feet above ground in the lower branches of an apple tree, the water of the lake having receded that nmch after having inundated the orchard. Two nests ?vere seen far out on open water that were readily visible at a distance of one hundred yards. One nest was found that looked exactly like a grebe's nest; another was built entirely of weed-straws: still another entirely of freshly cut green cat-tails and one over deep water was made entirely from green moss brought up from the bottom of the lake. Complete sets ranged in nmnber from six to thirteen and one set at present in the writer's collection contains seventeen eggs. Minute ex- amination of this set has failed to reveal two types of eggs as would likely be the case if this set was the product of two birds. When lotrod the eggs in this set were arranged in two layers in the nest. and even then it must have been practically impossible for the brooding female to cover the entire clutcb. In several instances we proved that an egg was deposited each day. Incuba- tion is apparently not begun until the set is complete, as all the eggs in a nest nsually hatched on the same day. The parent birds when disturbed during incubation Fig. 48. NEST OF COOT BUILT ON PLATFORM OF DEAD RUSHES TWO FEET ABOVE GROUND WITH RUNWAY LEADING 'UP TO EGGS have a very peculiar fashion of swimming out a few yards from the liest, uttering a low moaning or croaking note of protest. Then with head low over the water, feathers puffed out and wings hehl away from the body. the bird will suddenly rise just off the water, and by kicking rapidly back- ward with both feet, will send a shower of spray in the general direction of the intruder. This performance will often be repeated time after time and is a very grotesque and expressive method of exhibiting the bird's displeas- n Fe. The paretits are quite devoted to their nests but will seldom allow one to approach closer than a dozen yards before seeking safety out on the water, but seldom if ever do they take flight upon leaving the nest and then only in cases where they are greatly surprised.