388 



COLYMBID^E : LOONS. 



FAMILY COLYMBIDvE : LOONS. 



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON. 



COLYMBUS TORQUATUS 



Chars. Black ; below from the breast white, with dark touches on 

 the sides and vent ; back with numerous square white spots ; 

 head and neck iridescent with violet and green, having a patch 

 of sharp white streaks on each side of the neck and another on 

 the throat ; bill black. Young : dark gray above, the feathers 

 with paler edges ; below, white from the bill, the sides dusky ; 

 bill yellowish-green and dusky. Length, 2.50-3.00 feet ; extent 

 about 4.00 ; wing about 14 inches ; tarsus, 3.00 or more ; longest 

 toe and claw, 4.00 or more ; bill, 3.00 or less, at base i.oo deep 

 and 0.50 wide; the culmen, commissure, and gonys all gently 

 curved. 



FIG. 82. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



The Loon is properly to be classed as resident in 

 New England, being known to breed occasionally at 

 different points within our limits, and regularly in north- 



