OF ORXITHOLOGY 135 



The synonymy of tlie Petrels^ all things considered, is one 

 apparently of strange inconsistency, and I would not advise 

 the yonug student to bother much over it. Professor JBaird 

 added Dapfion and Fregeffa to the family, and he gives a sub- 

 (iENUH for nearly every individual species besides. The 

 names Proeelhtria, FulinarK.s, Thd/dssidroina.s, and PiiffiiiKs^ 

 were used by old writers as synonyms, generally for the wh(jle 

 sii/)-f(niii/t/ and in their ])resent restricted sense. 



FAMILY LX COLYMBIDAE THE LOONS 



Greek kahiDibos, Latin (■oljimbns, " a kind of water ibwk" 

 The Loonn might at first be somewhat puzzling to a novice, 

 vvcre he not familiar witli both the name and the general form 

 from his childhood's picture books. When Hying high in the 

 air, they are easily mistaken for the Cana<la Goose unless one 

 is quite familiar with the appearance of both birds. It is on 

 the water that the Loon is in his native element. They swim 

 with ease and grace ; dive at the flash of the gun ; and swim 

 long distances under the water, apparently without very great 

 exertion. They only take wing when compelled to, prefer- 

 ring to escape their pursuers by diving. They are easily dis- 

 tinguishable when examined closely : The long, stout, com- 

 pressed, straight, and sharp-tij)pe(l bill ; long, narrow, and 

 lobed nostrils ; strong and long-])ointed wings ; short, thick 

 tail ; legs situated very far back making it difficult for them 

 to walk on land ; toes all })reseut, webbed ; these features tell 

 the Loonx at once, • They are usually spotted black and white 

 above, and pure white beneath. Their curiously harsh and 

 fiendish cry has struck terror into the heart of many a camper- 

 out quietly taking his first outing by the side of some cool 

 inland lake or stream. There is but a single genus. 



Genus, Colymbus, 5 species. 



The old-time Exdi/tr-s or Eudifes :ire not now in us(> except for references. 



FAMILY LXI PODICIPIDAE THE GREBES 



Latin podex buttox, and jx-.s' foot: Imttox-footed. 

 The Girbc.'i, though strongly resembling the Loons in very 



