AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS 11 



Fig. 25. Pacific Loon. 



Winter plumage and young: back without white markings; throat white. 

 Wing: 11.54, bill 2.15. 



Distribution. Pacific coast from Lower California to Alaska, breeding 

 far northward ; east to Hudson Bay. 



Macfarlane has found nests of the Pacific loon in wooded sections, 

 in the Barren Grounds, and on the shores of the Arctic Sea. The 

 birds reach these breeding places in June and leave in September. 

 In winter Mr. Loomis has found them passing up and down the 

 coast in great numbers. 



11. Gavia lumme (Gunn.). RED-THROATED LOON. 



Adults in summer plumage. Head and neck plumbeous gray ; throat with 

 a wedge-shaped patch of rich chestnut ; back sooty ; top of head and back 

 of neck streaked and back specked with white ; under parts white. Winter 

 plumage and young : throat and fore neck white. Length : 24-27, wing 

 10.00-11.50, bill 2.25. 



Distribution. Northern part of northern hemisphere, breeding in arc- 

 tic regions and migrating south nearly across the United States. 



Eggs. 2, laid on the ground, like those of G. arctica, p. 10. 



In Alaska the red -throated are by far the most abundant of the 

 loons. They reach St. Michaels and the Yukon delta with the first 

 open water, and by the end of May are to be seen in great numbers. 

 Mr. Nelson says they are extremely noisy all through the first part 

 of summer, their harsh gr-r-ga-gr-r, gr-r-ga, gd-gr-r rising every- 

 where from the marshes during the entire twenty-four hours. 



FAMILY ALCID-SI : AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Bill high, much compressed, ridged down sides ; a fold of 

 naked skin at corner of mouth .... Lunda, p. 12. 

 F'.. 26. 1'. Bill not extremely high, compressed, nor ridged ; corner of 

 mouth without fold of naked skin. 



2. Nostrils covered by feathers .... Uria, p. 16. 



2'. Nostrils exposed. 



3. Bill about as long as head, 1 or more. 



