8o4 THE LOON. 
only before the ice line; and it may be that the winter birds of Puget 
Sound are East-side visitors, who do not care to go further south, nor yet 
to invade the precincts of their established brethren, 
No. 360. 
LOON. 
A. O. U. No. 7. Gavia immer (Briinnich). 
Synonym.—GreAt NortHern Diver. 
Description.—Adu/t in summer: Head and neck black with metallic reflec- 
tions, most intense on lower neck; middle of the throat crossed by a narrow bar 
of white streaks; a similar but wider bar on each side of neck lower down; 
underparts pure white; upperparts greenish black, sharply spotted with white in 
regular transverse rows,—the spots mostly squarish, smallest on the upper back 
and rump, largest on lower scapulars; the sides similarly ornamented with 
rounded spots; sides of cervix black-and-white, streaked or striped; wing-quills 
blackish, with warm purplish reflections ; bill black; feet and legs black externally, 
yellow internally; iris carmine. Adult in winter and immature: Above dark 
brown, clear and greenish glossed on crown and back of neck, feathers of the 
back, ete., more or less heavily tipped with ashy gray or dull buffy; entire under- 
parts, including sides, white, shading on sides of head, or alternating with brown 
of upperparts in large dentations ; bill light blue with dusky ridge; feet brownish 
dusky externally, yellowish internally. Length 28.00-36.00 (711.2-914.4); wing 
14.00 (355.6); tail 2.60 (66); bill 3.00 (76.2); along gape 4.00 (101.6); tarsus 
3.40 (86.4). 
Recognition Marks.—lrant to Eagle size; back black speckled with white; 
head and neck black interrupted by white-streaked spaces; below white; large, 
pointed bill. Large size distinctive as compared with other divers. 
Nesting.—Nest: a mere depression in sand or gravel, etc., near the edge of 
lake or pond. Eggs: 2, dark brown or olive-brown, faintly and sparingly spotted 
with darker or blackish. Av. size, 3.50 x 2.25 (88.9% 57.2). Season: May 15- 
June 1; one brood. 
General Range.—Northern part of northern hemisphere. In North America 
breeds from the northern tier of states northward; ranges in winter south to the 
Gulf of Mexico and Lower California. 
Range in Washington.—Common winter resident and migrant on Puget 
Sound and along Pacific Coast; less common in interior waters ; sparingly resident 
in summer on secluded lakes in the mountains and foothills—much less common 
than formerly. 
Migrations.—Very desultory—fall migrations dependent upon stress of 
weather, and spring movement upon latitude (or altitude) of destination; cross 
migration, to and from sea, in September (or August) and April. 
