LOONS. 2o 



6. BLACK-^THROATED LOON. 



Intermediate in size between the Loon 

 and the Red-throated Loon, about 28. Head 

 and neck above, grayish, but the throat and 

 neck below are bhick, with longitudinal white 

 lines down the neck between it and the gray. 

 The back is black with small ovate spots of 

 w^iite. The young have the neck grayish in 

 front and the back unspotted, but Avith each 

 feather broadly margined with bluish w^hite, 

 giving the back a scaly appearence. Breeds 

 in the Arctic regions ; south in winter to ex- 

 treme northern United States only, where it 

 is exceedingly rare. While there does not 

 appear to be any authentic record of this un- 

 common species having been seen in the Unit- 

 ed States, it may be well to watch for it, es- 

 pecially on the coast, as it could be easily ov- 

 erlooked. 



