282 COLYMBINiE. 



pointed ; the oesophagus wide ; the stomach moderately mus- 

 cular ; the coeca rather large. It is, hoM'ever, in their feet 

 that they differ essentially from the Grebes, the toes being 

 connected by regular webs. The tail also, though small, is 

 formed of feathers of the ordinary kind, not of downy plu- 

 mules. The wings, very small, narrow, and acute, do not 

 differ materially from those of the Auk family. 



In the celerity with which they dive and proceed under 

 water, they are not exceeded by the Mergansers, Cormorants, 

 or perhaps any other birds. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. COLYMBUS. LOON. 



Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, much 

 compressed, tapering, pointed ; feet short, and placed at the 

 extremity of the body ; tarsus extremely compressed, edged 

 before and behind, covered all over with sub-hexagonal 

 scales ; hind toe extremely small, connected with the next 

 by a membrane, Avhich is partly free and lobiform ; anterior 

 toes long ; interdigital membranes narrow ; claws small, 

 convex above, rounded ; wings short, narrow, pointed ; tail 

 extremely short, rounded, of about twenty feathers. 



1. Colymbus glacialis. Northern or Tting-neched Loon. 

 About three feet long; head and neck deep bluish-green, 

 glossed with purple; a patch on the throat and a broad 

 ring, incomplete in front, on the neck, Avhite, longitudinally 

 streaked with black. 



2. Colymhus arcticus. Black-throated Loon. About two 

 feet eight inches long ; upper part of head and hind-neck 

 light grey ; fore-neck purplish-black. 



3. Colymhus septentrionalis. Red-throated Loon. About 

 two feet five inches long ; sides of the head bluish-grey ; 

 upper part of the head grey, with small dark spots ; nape, 

 hind and lower parts of neck, streaked with black and 

 white ; fore-neck with a broad longitudinal band of deep 

 orange-red. 



