19 



There is some evidence from European writers that loons 

 use their wings in diving and swimming. Johns says : 



I am informed by a friend that while fishing in a boat in calm water 

 off the coast of North Devon, he has many times seen Divers {Red-throated 

 Loons] pass through the water, at a considerable depth below, propelling 

 themselves by a free and active use of their wings. 1 



Dresser says of the Red-throated Loon: 



When it dives it ... propels itself along with its wings as well as 

 with its feet. 2 



MacGilli vray says of this species : 



Under the water it pursues its way with great speed, using its wings 

 as well as its feet. 3 



Mr. Alfred Cookman, San Diego, California, asserts that the 

 Red-throated Loon uses the feet "alternately with the wings." 



Many of my correspondents who have had opportunities to 

 observe Loons swimming below the surface report similar use of 

 the wings. 



Dr. B. Harry Warren, West Chester, Pennsylvania, reports 

 that he has seen Loons using their wings under water. 



Mr. Erie L. Brown, State Game Warden, Bowdoinham, 

 Maine, who saw in the spring of 1921 a Loon swimming be- 

 neath the surface, says that the "first joint" of the wing was 

 used in quick strokes; that both wings and feet were used and 

 that the strokes of the feet alternated one after the other, also 

 that the Loon swam faster when using the wings than when 

 using the feet alone. Dr. Walter H. Scudder in 1886 watched 

 a Loon swimming in a canal lock at Akron, Ohio. This bird 

 raised its wings and held them stationary, while it propelled 

 itself with its feet. Mr. Ralph Lawson writes that on several 

 occasions he has seen Loons use their wings under water; and 

 has no doubt that it is a common means of covering distance 

 quickly when occasion demands. He mentions a particular 

 instance when with one companion he pursued a Loon in 



1 Johns, C. A.: British Birds in their Haunts, 1909, p. 297. 



2 Dresser, H. E.: Birds of Europe, Vol. VIII, 1871-1881, p. 625. 



3 MacGillivray, Wm.: British Birds, Vol. V, 1852, p. 304. 



