32 WATER BIRDS 



Nest: A slight hollow on ground, close to water; unlined and unpro- 

 tected. 

 Eggs : 2 ; brown or olive, spotted with umber. Size 2.50 X 1.81. 



This is the smallest and handsomest of the loons. 

 It occurs in California from Nov^ember to late in April, 

 being the last to arrive from the North and the first to 

 leave. In habits it is nearly identical with Gavia 

 imher, but is a more northern variety, being more abun- 

 dant in Canada than in the United States. It has been 

 found breeding in British Columbia fifty miles north of 

 Vancouver. Unlike the common loon, however, it fre- 

 quents the salt rather than the fresh water, and during 

 the winter months is common along the California coast 

 from Oregon to Mexico. It is the " gray loon " of the 

 fishermen, and its long, wild call as it rises against a 

 breeze and circles under a cloudy sky is always a signal 

 for the boats to seek shelter, for the storm will break 

 and not " blow over," 



44. GLAUCOUS-WINGED G\]IA..—Larus glaucescens. 



Family : The Gulls and Terns. 



Length: 25.75. 



Adults in Sumiiur : Head, neck, lower parts, and tail uniform white; 

 mantle dark pearl-gray ; feet and legs black. 



Adults in Winter: Plumage similar to that of summer, but with head 

 and neck finely mottled or washed with sooty gray. 



Young : Dark ash-gray, with mantle mixed with pearl-gray ; head and 

 neck indistinctly streaked with huffy ; under parts mixed with white. 



Doivny Young : Dull whitish gray above, white below ; head, neck, and 

 upper parts marked iri'egulaily with dark gray. 



Geographical Distribution : Pacitic coast of North America from Alaska 

 and P>ehring Sea ; south in winter to Southern California. 



Breeding Range : Islands of the Pacific coast from Washington north- 

 ward. 



