DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 15 



a, Loons. Gavia. 



Characters as on the preceding page, under order. 



1. LOOX, G. IMBER. Largest of our Loons, 32.00. In 

 summer, black above and on head and neck ; marked on back 

 with transverse bands of square spots, two to each feather, 

 figs. 7, 8; white beneath ; a collar, composed of elevated lines 



Fig. 8. Fig. 9. 



B, A, a, 1. U, A, a, 3. 



of white, on lower neck, and transverse spot of same on mid- 

 dle neck beneath. In winter and young, duller above with- 

 out white markings ; throat and neck in front, white. Breeds 

 on the borders of large inland ponds and lakes from northern 

 U. S. northward. Yery common. In winter occurs on salt 

 water, off the coast, on bays, sounds, etc., from Me. to the 

 Carolinas ; rare in Fla. 



2. BLACK-THROATED LOON, G. arcticus. Smaller 

 than 1, 29.00 ; differs in color in having the back of head and 

 hind neck deep gray; the throat is black, and there are no 

 white streakings on neck. In winter differs from 1 only in 

 having each feather of back broadly margined with grayish. 

 Breeds in the Arctic regions ; south in winter to extreme 

 northern U. S., where it is very rare. 



3. RED-THROATED LOON, G. lumme. Smallest of 

 our Loons, 26.00 ; differs from 1 in having the head and neck 

 ashy at all seasons ; in summer there is a triangular patch of 

 red on throat ; at all seasons each feather of back has two 

 oblique, rounded, sub-terminal spots of white, fig. 9. Breeds 



