Aechmophorus occidentalis, Grebe egg

Description:

One of four western grebe eggs collected from Sweetwater Lake, Ramsey Co., North Dakota (see CBE1573-CBE1576). Original collector E. S. Bryant noted incubation had commenced at time of collection and the nest was composed of "decaying matter floating on water. Depth of water 4 1/2 feet" an "about 300 to 500 nests of this grebe in colony. This colony joined those of black-crowned night herons, American eared grebe, and Franklin's gull. Nearby was a colony of a dozen nest[s] in trees of the D.C. 'commorant' [cormorant]." Later acquired by Alexander Sprunt.

Original set mark: 3 1/4; Bryant collection