NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 7 



7. Loon. Gavia imber. 



Range. North America north of the Mexican boundary, breeding from the 

 northern parts of the United States northward. 



[Dark greenish brown.] 



Unlike the Grebes, Loons do not build in colonies, generally not more than 

 one, or at the most two pairs nesting on the same lake or pond ; neither do they 

 seek the marshy sloughs in which Grebes dwell, preferring the more open, clear 

 bodies of water. The common Loon may be known in summer by the entirely 

 black head and neck with the complete ribbon of black and white stripes encir- 

 cling the lower neck and the narrower one which crosses the throat. The l>;nk 

 is spotted with white. In some sections Loons build no nest, simply scooping 

 a hollow out in the sand, while in other places they construct quite a large nest 

 of sticks, moss and grasses. It is usually placed but a few feet from the waters 

 edge, so that at the least suspicion the bird can slide off its eggs into the water, 

 where it can cope with any enemy. The nests are nearly always concealed under 

 the overhanging bushes that line the shore ; the one shown in the full page 

 illustration, however, was located upon the top of an old muskrat house. The 

 two eggs which they lay are a very dark greenish brown in color, with black 

 spots. Size 3. 50x2. 25. Data. Lake Sunapee, N. H., June 28, 1895. Nest placed 

 under the bushes at the waters edge. Made of rushes, weeds and grasses ; a large 

 structure nearly three feet in diameter. Collector, H. A. Collins. 



8. Yellow-Billed Loon. Gavia a<l(nn*ii. 



Range. Northwestern North America, along the Arctic and northern Alaskan 

 coasts. 



