416 BIRDS OF ARCTIC AMERICA — MACFARLANE. 



7. Urinator imber (Gntin.)- Loou. 



The nest of this diver is usually fouad in the water on the edge of a 

 small lake, and is but a mere de[)ressiou in the center of a tolerably 

 large mass of turf, or accumulated decayed vegetable matter, partially 

 secured from observation by grass aud reeds growing thereon, or in its 

 vicinity. In no iustauce were more than two eggs taken in any of the 

 nine recorded nests. 



8. Uriiiator adamsii (Gray). Yellow-billed Loon. 



During the period of reproduction this loon abounds in considerable 

 numbers in Franklin and Liverpool bays, where several examples were 

 shot. It is also sometimes met with on the larger lakes of the interior. 

 Although most anxious to possess eggs of this species, we all failed to 

 discover even one well-authenticated nest, while it is possible that the 

 two adamsii eggs referred to on page 452, of vol. ii, of the aforesaid 

 Water Birds of North America, may have belonged to the Great North- 

 ern Diver. An Esquimaux of our party observed a male Somateria 

 v-nigra struck and killed on the wing by a bird of this species. 



9. Urinator arcticus (Liun.). Black-throated Loou. 



This species undoubtedly breeds within the Arctic circle : but we must 

 have secured very few specimens, as I only know of one well-authenti- 

 cated set of eggs, obtained from Fort Anderson in 1865, and which are 

 now in the oological collection of the U. S. National Museum in Wash- 

 ington. 



10. Urinator pacificus (Lawrence). Pacific Loon. 



This is the most abundant of all the divers in the region under investi- 

 gation. Nests were discovered in the wooded country, in the Barren 

 Grounds, and ou the shores aud islands of the Arctic coast. In situa- 

 tion and composition they resemble those of U. imber. In all about 

 one hundred and sixty-five nests, most of which contained two eggs, 

 were secured in course of the live seasons, from 1802 to 1866, inclusive. 

 Some eggs of this species, as well as of many other birds, also got broken 

 on their way to the post and in course of emptying and handling them 

 there. I may here remark that although the several members of the 

 family Urinatoridce occasionally give utterance to rather discordant 

 sounds while in the water, the Pacific Loou is noted for its peculi.irly 

 loud, weird, and prolonged shrill scream during the season of uidifica- 



tion. 



11. Urinator lumme (Gunn.). Red-throated Loou. 



Although its yearly range in summer is equal to that of 17. pacifmis, 

 it is the least numerous of the genus, and but some forty identified nests 

 were fouud within the same period of time, and in the stated localities, 

 ^lost of these also had two eggs, the maximum number laid by all loons 

 according to native report and personal observation. 



