154 Bird- Nesting 



America this species is more rare than the common and red- 

 throated loon, and is not often observed in the United States. 

 Its summer home is within the Arctic circle. The black - 

 throated loon is known to breed in Sutherland, in Scotland, 

 and also in the Shetland Islands, and in the Hebrides. This 

 species also breeds in Norway and Sweden, and is common in 

 Lapland, but does not breed in Iceland, where the common loon 

 and red-throated diver are abundant. In " Nests and Eggs of 

 North American Birds," by Oliver Davie, a set of two eggs of 

 this bird is recorded as coming from Iceland, and now in the 

 collection of J. Parker Norris. This is evidently a mistake, as 

 the black-throated loon is not found there, besides, the measure- 

 ments of the eggs are too large, as this species never lays an 

 Qgg, 3.40x2.11. Professor Ridgway gives the size as averag- 

 ing about 8.09x1.96. The above set recorded from Iceland is 

 doubtless a cJutcli of the common loon. I have received dozens 

 of eggs of the connnon and red-throated loons from Iceland for 

 the past seven years, but never yet obtained an eg^cr^ of the black- 

 throated loon from that country. Before me is a series of 

 fourteen eggs of the black-throated diver, all from Lapland, 

 The following is the measurement of four of the sets : 



Set 1. Two eggs, collected at Tornea, Lapland, June 22nd, 

 1888 ; size, 3.23x1.92 and 3.28x1.95. Set 2. Two eggs, from 

 Tornea, Lapland, June 20th, 1886 ; size, 3.25x2.00 and 3.20x- 

 1.97. Set 3. Two eggs, from Lapland, June 16th, 1890 : size, 

 3.33x1.93 and 3.25x1.92. Set 4. Two eggs, from Lapland, June 

 18th, 1891 ; size, 3.25x2.00 and 3.18x1.97. 



It will be seen from the above data that in Lapland tliis 

 bird lays its eggs about the middle of June. In colour the eggs 

 of this species are like those of the common loon, but the}' are 

 less in size. The liome of the various species of loons is on the 

 water, and they are awkward and helpless on land, on account 

 of their legs being so far behind. Tliey are splendid swimmers 

 and divers, and can make rapid progress under water. 



I took the eggs back to the buggy, and then drove the horse 

 further round the lake. Out in the deep water were a num- 

 ber of ducks, grebes, coots and gulls, and amongst them I saw 



