AUKS, MURKES, AND PUFFINS 11 



Fig. 25. Pacific Loon. 



Winter plumage and young: back without white inarkii]g\s : throat white. 

 Winy: 11.54, bill 2.15. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast from Lower California to Alaska, breeding 

 far northward ; east to Hudson Bay. 



Macfarlane has found nests of the Pacific loon in wooded sections, 

 in the Barren Grounds, and on the shores of the Arctic Sea. The 

 birds reach these breeding places in June and leave in September. 

 In winter Mr. Loomis has found them passing up and down the 

 coast in great numbers. 



11. Gavia lumme (Ginm.). Red-thkoated Loon. 



Adults in summer plumage. — Head and neck plumbeous gray ; throat with 

 a wedge-shaped patch of rich chestnut ; back sooty ; top of head and back 

 of neck streaked and back specked with white ; under parts white. Winter 

 plumage and young : throat and fore neck white. Lenqth : 24-27, wing 

 10.00-11.50, bill 2.25. 



Distribution. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, breeding- in arc- 

 tic regions and migrating' south nearly across the United States. 



Eggs. — 2, laid on the ground, like those of G. arctica, p. 10. 



In Alaska the red-throated are by far the most abimdant of the 

 loons. They reach St. Michaels and the Yukon delta with the first 

 open water, and by the end of ]May are to be seen in great numbers. 

 Mr. Nelson says they are extremely noisy all through the first part 

 of summer, their harsh f/i'-t'-f/fi-f/f-r. gr-r-f/a, gn-gr-r rising every 

 where from tlu; marshes during the entire twenty-four hours. 



FAMILY ALCIDiE : AUKS, MURRES. AND PUFFINS. 



KEY TO OENKKA. 

 i*i 1. Bill high, much conipres.sed. ridgi'd down sides; a fold of 

 6 naked skin at corner of mouth .... Luuda. p. 12. 



FIr. '2<i. r. Bill not extremely high, compressed, nor ridged ; eorner of 

 mouth without fold of naked skin. 



'^^'^ 2. Nostrils covered by feathers ... Uria, p. Ul. 

 6 

 Fifj. JT. - • Xostrils exposed. 



.'!. I'ill .ibont as long as head. 1 or more. 



