BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 27 
marvellous aerial powers are displayed to the best ad- 
vantage. By swift, indescribably graceful darts they 
secure fish which are near the surface, or capture those 
which have leaped from the water to escape some enemy 
below. They also pursue gulls and terns, and, forcing 
them to disgorge their prey, catch it in midair.” 
Although rare in California north of Monterey, they 
are more or less common throughout the coast from that 
point southward. They are high-handed plunderers of 
the gulls, meting out to them some punishment for their 
constant thieving. But it is to the unfortunate fish-hawk 
that these pirates are most terrible. Reports are given 
on good authority of the terror exhibited by fish-hawks 
at the approach of their enemy, who forces them to fish 
hour by hour until exhausted, and seizes every fish as 
soon as it is brought up from the water. This frequently 
results in the death of the hawk by exhaustion and 
drowning. 
Pee st OUND NEAR THE SHORE. OR 
1 a oe. es 
7. LOON. — Gavia imber. 
Famity: The Loons. 
Length: 32.00. 
Adults in Summer: Head and neck glossy greenish black ; upper parts, 
wings, and tail iridescent black ; throat and sides of neck crossed by 
transverse streaks of white ; back and wings spotted or speckled with 
white ; breast and belly white ; sides black, spotted with white ; bill 
black. 
