254 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



lowish flesh-color; claws black, lighter at the base; webs brownish black, lighter in the 

 middle" (Audubon). Young: Upper parts dusky, the scapulars, interscapulars, and upper 

 tail-coverts bordered terminally with plumbeous-gray; lower parts, including malar 

 region, chin, throat, and fore-neck, white, the sides and flanks dusky brown, squamated 

 with grayish. "Bill rale yellowish green, the ridge and tip of upper mandible du>ky; 

 iris brown; feet dusky externally, pale yellowish flesh-color internally, webs dusky, but 

 yellow in the middle" (Audubon). Downy young: Uniform dark fuliginous, lighter and 

 more slaty on the throat, fore-neck, chest, and sides, the entire abdomen velvety yellowish 

 white, shaded with pale ash-gray exteriorly. The down short and very dense, very similar 

 to the fur of an otter or other fur-bearing mammal. 



Total length, 28.00 to 36.00 inches; extent, 52.00 to 57.50; wing, 13.05-15.25 (average 14.06); 

 culmen, 2.75-3.50 (3.07); depth of bill through base, .00-1.06 (.96); tarsus, 2.75-3.85 (3.35) ; outer 

 toe, 3.85-4.65 (4.22). [Thirteen adults.] 



This handsome water bird is a more or less common winter 

 resident on the larger waters throughout the State of Illinois, 

 and breeds in the northern portion, although according to Mr. 

 Nelson it was, as long ago as 1876, "of uncommon occurrence 

 during summer" in Cook county.* 



The following description of the leading characteristics of the 

 Loon is partly condensed from Dr. Brewer's account in Water 

 Birds of North America, Vol. II., pages 447-450: 



The Loon very rarely associates in flocks, and then only ap- 

 parently from necessity— as when a limited surface of open water 

 compels them to crowd together. During the winter, either 

 singly or in pairs, or in small parties, they are dispersed through- 

 out the United Stales. Knowing that man is its mortal enemy, 

 this bird is constantly on the watch. When it meets a passing- 

 boat it widens the distance by immediately steering off, is active 

 in diving, and when sitting, defies the keenest sportsman. It is 

 a very hardy bird, and is said to live to an incredible old age. 

 It subsists almost entirely on fish, is an excellent diver, and 

 when alarmed, eludes pursuit by passing swiftly to a consider- 

 able distance under the water. Its habits are strictly aquatic. 

 When, in its migrations, it passes over the land, it flies at a 

 great height and very rapidly. In stormy weather it takes 

 shelter in coves and creeks, and occasionally in mill ponds. 



The loon swims very low in the water, hardly more than the 

 head and neck being exposed, and is so alert and active as to 

 dive readily at the flash of a gun, rendering it almost impossi- 

 ble to kill the bird with a charge of shot unless very close to it. 

 It prefers to escape pursuit by diving rather than flying, and 



* Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Vol. viii, p. 150. 



