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most expert of all the birds. Loons 

 have strong wings, and although they 

 rise from the water with difficulty, 

 when once under way their flight is 

 exceedingly swift and straight. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, 

 although there is considerable dif- 

 ference between the summer and winter 

 dress. 



Four of the five known species of 

 Loons range over the northern portion 

 of the northern hemisphere, and occur 

 in China, the remaining species being 

 confined to the Pacific coast of North 

 America. Only one species is reported 

 from the Yangtse Valley. 



EEDTHEOATED DIVEE, 

 OE LOON. 



GAVIA STELLATA (pONTOPPIDON). 

 (Gavia Septentrionalis L.) 



Description. — Length, 28 inches. 



Bill, horn color, straight and sharp. 

 Legs, brownish green. Forehead, 

 crown, and nape, dark gray, mottled 

 light gray ; sides of the neck, blue 

 gray, also mottled. 



In summer the throat has a 

 triangular reddish brown spot, which 

 gives the bird its popular name. This 

 spot usually disappears in winter. 



The throat, breast, and abdomen, 

 are white ; and the back is black 

 spotted with white. 



The mottled crown and forehead is 

 the distinguishing mark of this Loon 

 at all seasons of the year. 



Distribution. — Europe, America, and 

 Asia. 



Frequently seen along the central 

 China coast and inland, during the 

 migrating season, it comes south only 



