518 LONGIPENNES—LOOM 
carolinensis (Wilson, Am. Orn. iii. p. 57), well known in the eastern 
part of North America, as well as to its western representative L. 
excubitoroides, Baird ; (2) in Jamaica to two species of TYRANT-BIRD 
inhabiting that island, Pifangus caudifasciatus in the Windward 
portion, and Myiarchus validus or crinitus in the Leeward (Gosse, B. 
Jam. pp. 177, 186); but perhaps originally to (3) a very large 
Duck, the Tachyeres! or Micropterus cinereus or brachypterus, on 
which have since been bestowed the names of Race-Horse (Byron, 
Narrative &e. p. 50) and Steamer-Duck (P. P. King, Voy. ‘Adventure,’ 
i. p. 36), inhabiting the Falkland Islands and the Strait of 
Magellan, where its peculiar habit of rowing itself with its wings . 
along the top of the water at great speed has been noticed by 
seamen for more than three centuries, and accounts of it may be 
read in many narratives. <A second species, 7. patachonicus has been 
described (Zool. Journ. iv. p. 100) and said to be capable of flight ; 
but Prof. R. O. Cunningham is of opinion (Nat. Hist. Strait Magell. 
pp. 91-98) that the volant birds are the young of those which do 
not fly, and growing heavier with age lose the power of raising 
themselves in the air. This view he ably maintains (Z'rans. Zool. 
Soc. vii. pp. 493-501, pls. 58-62), and if it be as correct as it seems 
its bearing on the flightlessness of Birds is of great importance. 
Doubts, however, have been expressed on the subject, and M. 
Oustalet has declared (Miss. Scientif. du Cap Horn, Oiseaux, pp. B. 
212-232, pls. 4, 5) his belief in the validity of two species. 
LONGIPENNES, Duméril’s name in 1806 (Zool. Analyt. p. 71) 
for a “Family” of birds containing the SKIMMER, TERN, AVOSET, 
PeTREL, ALBATROS and GULL, which having been adopted by 
Cuvier, who had before called (Lec. d@ Anat. Comp. tabl. ii.) this 
group, the Avoset excepted, “ Macroptéres,” has been very often 
used, though mostly by French authors. 
LONGIROSTRES, Cuvier’s name in 1805 (Leg. @ Anat. Comp. 
tabl. ii.) for a group containing all the Limicole of modern authors 
then known to him except Hematopus (OYSTER-CATCHER). 
LOOM, or LOON (Icelandic, Zémr), a name applied to water- 
birds of three distinct Families, all remarkable for their clumsy 
gait on land.2 The first of them is the Colymbidx, to which the 
term DIVER is nowadays usually restricted in books; the second 
the Podicipedidz, or GREBES; and the third the Aledx. The form 
Loon is most commonly used both in the British Islands and in 
1 This name was given to it by Sir R. Owen (Zrans. Zool. Soc. ix. p. 254), 
Micropterus being preoccupied. 
2 The word also takes the form ‘‘Lumme” (jide Montagu), and, as Prof. 
Skeat observes, is probably connected with lame. The signification of loon, a 
clumsy fellow, and metaphorically a simpleton, is obvious to any one who has 
seen the attempt of the birds to which the name is given to walk. 
