30 WATER BIRDS 
“Only on a lonely lake in the heart of the woods do 
you get the startling thrill of the Loon’s wild ery — one 
clear, piercing note, or a long, quavering, demoniacal 
laugh that to the timid suggests a herd of screaming 
panthers.” 
10. PACIFIC LOON. — Gavia pacifica. 
Famity: The Loons. 
Length: 27.00. 
Adults in Summer: Upper part of head and nape pale gray, nearly 
white ; sides of head, throat, and fore-neck black, glossed with 
metallic purple and green ; wings and tail blackish; breast and belly 
white; sides of neck, wing-coverts, and back black, spotted and 
streaked with white ; sides of belly sometimes finely streaked with 
black. 
Adults in Winter, and Young: Similar to Gavia imber. 
Downy Young: Dark sooty gray. 
Geographical Distribution : Western United States, east to Rocky Moun- 
tains, south to Cape St. Lucas, north to arctic circle, east to Hudson 
Bay. 
Breeding Range: From Northern United States to Alaska. 
Breeding Season : Approximately, June 1 to August 1. 
Jest : Of water grasses, rushes, or decayed vegetation at edge of water. 
Eggs: 2; varying in color from brown-olive to pale greenish gray. Size 
3-00 X 1.85. 
Tuts species of the Pacific coast Black-throated Loon 
corresponds to the Black-throated Loon of Eastern 
United States, being a trifle paler in coloring but iden- 
tical in habits. It is the most expert of all divers; I 
have seen one remain under water three minutes by 
a watch, meanwhile covering a distance of a hundred 
yards in his submarine swimming. They are very abun- 
dant in Monterey Bay all the winter, and I have found 
a few there as late as June 10, although the regular 
