R ED-THROATED LOON. o 



the second or third week in Juno, and, as I am informed by Mr. J. C. Mead, the young 

 may be seen in company with their parents, by the first ol' August, not only swimming but 

 diving well, even at this early age. Mr. Mead also states that the adults arc extremely 

 solicitous for the safely of their offspring, and if their young chance to be captured, they 

 will follow the boat, crying loudly, and oflen remaining about the spot where the despoiler 

 left the water, for some days. The Great Loons are migratory and I have shot them in 

 Middle Florida, but they are not common so far south. 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS. 

 Ked-throatecl Loon. 



Colymbus si-ptentrinnalis Linn., Syst. Nat., 1 ; ITCifi, 220. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Si". C'u. Form, robust. Sizc.iiipdium. Color. Adult. Sides and upper part^, liruwuislj-Iilai-k, thickly spotted witli 

 oval marks c.f wliite and the tail is tipped with it. Top uf head, greenish-black narrowly streaked with white. Sides of 

 head and throat, blui.sh-ash, with a large triangular patch of chestnut on latter. Beneath, white. Bill, black, iris, ruby- 

 red, and feet, greeni-li. Ynuny. asliy-brown above, racli feather liaving two suljterminalsp-.its of white. White beneath, 

 occa-siunally tinged with ashy on tliroat. Iris, brown; bill, bluLsli. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known in adult stage by the red throat; in young by the subterminal spotting to fcathei-s above. Distributed in sum- 

 mer, from Labvadiir, northward. VVintei-s from Grand Menan, southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average nieasurciuents uf sjieciiiicns. Length, SS-.W; stretch, 4-3-00; wing, USO; tail, •2-2!J; bill, 1-87; tarsus, 2-«8. 

 Longest specimen, OT'CO; greatest extent of wing, 4:r0ll; longest wing, 11 65; tail, 2-55; bill, '2-00; tarsus, 3(10. Shortest 

 specimen, 24110; .smallest extent of wing, 41-00; shortest wing, 1100; tail, 1-95; bill, I'To; tarsus, 2-75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EO(iS. 

 ye.f/s, placed on the ground near water, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Er/ys, two or three iu number, pointed oval 

 in fnrm, deep greenish-brown iu color, spotted and blotched with very dark-brown. Dimensions from r7r).\2 65 to I'90 

 x300. 



HABITS. 

 I procured a [lair of tidult Red-throated Loons at the Magdalen Ishmds in June, i)ut 

 did not see any more, nor do I tliink thtit Ihey usually, breed there. These Loons tire, how- 

 ever, very tibundant in the coast waters of Massachusetts and southward, in autumn and 

 winter, behaving much like the larger species. I do not think that either ofthe.se Loons 

 when tidult, assume a winter dress diiferent from thtit worn in summer, but that the birds 

 founil with us are merely inimalure specimens, for 1 htive met with the present species in 

 full spring drt ss, in Decendjer. These birds tire not very common iu the interior l)ut are 

 occasioniilly found on smtdl ponds. None of the Loons can rise from the ground, nor from 

 shtiUow Witter, nor from deep wtiter, if it be only ii few yards in diameter, tis they are 

 obliged to swim rapidly for some distance, before flying, iu order to gain headway. 



COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 

 Black-throated Loon, 



Coljjmhux Arriicus Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1706, 221. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Cu. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Chin, throat, and neck in front, black with purplish reflec- 

 tions, beamiing ashy-blue above, and separated from the black by a series of white lines. Body above and .sides, black. 

 Crescent of short lines on tliroat, spots in bands on back and upper wing coverts, streaks on sides of breast, and under parts, 

 white. Line across base of tail beneith aud lower coverts, dusky. Iris, ruby-red, bill, black, and feet, slaty. Vouni/, 

 very dark-brown above, the feathers having broad ashy-gray margins. Side of head, ashy very finely streaked with brown. 

 Beneath white becoming ashy on neck. Sides ol body and tips of lower tail coverts, dusky. Bill, blui.sh and iris, brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Recognized in the adult stage by the black throat, and in young, by the broad, bluish-gray margin to feathers above. 

 Distriliuted in summer throughout the Arctic Regions, wandering southward in winter. Dimensio.ns. Length, 39 00; 

 stretch, 39-50; wing, 12-(i0; tail, 2-7.5; bill, 2-45; tarsus, 2-90. 



