IKI.NATORID.K— THE LOONS. 255 



remains under water so long and comes to the surface at so 

 g;reat a distance from the pursuer and in such unexpected places 

 that the pursuit of one that has been made wary by attempts 

 on its life is exciting; though often tedious. 



The cry of the loon is loud and melanclioly, being likened by 

 some to the iiowl of a wolf or the prolonged scream of a human 

 being in distress. 



Its fli>sh is daik, tougli. and tishy. but is eaten by Indians. 



Urinator ai-cticus (Linn.) 



BLACK-THBOATES LOON. 

 Popular synonyms. Arctic Loon or Diver; Black-throated Diver. 

 Colymbus arctitus Linn. 8. N. ed. 10, i. 17o8, 135; • d. 12. 1766. 221.— Rich. & 8w. F. B.-.\. ii. 



1831.475.— Nun. Man. ii. 1834, 517.— .\rD. Orn. Biog. iv. 1838. 315: B. Am. vii, 1&44. 2;i5, 



pi. 477.— Gray. Gen. B. iii, , pi. 171.— Lawe. in Bairds B. N. Am. 1858, 888.— Baibd. 



Cat. N. Am. B. 1859,No. 099.- CouES.Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862.228; Key, 1872,334; 



Cheek List, 1873, No. 606; ed. 2, 1882, No. 842; Birds N. W. 1874,721.— Bidgw. Norn. N. 



Am. B. 1881, No. 738. 

 J'linoloi- arcticus Stejn. Proe. U. 8. Nat. Mus. v, 5, 1882, 13.-B. B. & R. Water B. Am. 



ii, 188), 452.— A. 0. U. Check List, 1886. No. 9.— RiDow. Man. N. Am. 1887, 7. 

 Columbus ynairorht/nclio.i BnEHM, V6g. Deutschl. 1831, 974. 

 Columbus megarliynclios BnEHM, Naum. v, 1855,300. 

 C'oli/mhus ignotiis Bechst. Gemein. Nature. Deutschl. ii, 1791,782. 

 Columbus leiicopus Bechst. Naturg. iv, 1809.625. 



Hab. Northern portions of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic districts. In 

 America, migrating south in winter, through the Eastern Province, to the northern United 

 States. 



Sp. Chab. a dull: Chin, throat, and fore-neck velvety purplish black, with a purplish 

 violet redection. this black bouuded sharply below, but on the sides of the head blending 

 gradually into the color of the cheeks and lor<'S. which are smoky slate, this color grndually 

 fading into a rather light smoky cinereous, which occupies the whole upper part of the 

 head and the entire nape; across the fore-neck, just below the throat. a bar of white streaks; 

 on the 8id<-s of the neck, between the purplish black of the fore-nock and the ash of the 

 nap", several longitudinal rows of black and white streaks, the latter narrowest. Upper 

 parts deep black, thn upper part of the back with two parallel longitudinal series of broad 

 white bars, the inner scupuliirs with a single series of much larger, but otherwi^e similar, 

 bars, and the wing-coverts marked with smsiU ovate spots of while. Lower parts while, 

 the sido^ of the chest streaked with black; entire sides uniform intense black. Bill 

 black, the tip lighter: iiis bright carmine; legs and feet "grayish blue, their inner sides 

 tinged with yellow; claws black, that of the inner toe yellowish at the base" (AuDunoNI. 

 Young: Similar to that of C imber, but usually. much smaller, the angle of the mandible 

 less prominent. 



Total length, about 20.00 to 29.00 inches; extent, 39..50; wing. 12.15-13.20 (average. 12.5,^1; 

 culmen, 2.5«-2.8i 12.' 0): depth of bill through base, .75-.80 (.78); tarsus, 2.90-3.30 (3 II); outer 

 toe. .3.45-3.95 (3.761. [Five adults.) 



The young of this species, particularly full grown specimens, are sometimes difnciilt )n 

 distinguish from immature specimens of (.'. imber; but the measuremcnta will in most 



