PACIFIC LOON 67 



and outlying islands (Kolguev, Nova Zembla?). North American 

 breeding records are very doubtful. Apparently there is not a single 

 North American taken set of eggs accompanied by parent birds to 

 establish the breeding of this species in the Western Hemisphere. 

 Siberian birds have been described as a distinct subspecies (see text), 

 but its range is not well known. 



Winter range. Birds have been recorded in winter from near the 

 northern limit of its breeding range, Lapland (Varanger Fiord). 

 It also winters from the British Isles, Heligoland, and Prussia south 

 to Spain, Portugal, the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, and 

 along the coast of eastern Siberia to Japan. 



Casual records. Some Alaska records probably refer to the Sibe- 

 rian subspecies. All other American records seem to refer to some- 

 thing else. 



Egg dates. Lapland: 12 records, May 28 to June 23; 6 records, 

 June 6 to 12. Finland: 8 records, June 6 to 17; 4 records, June 10 

 to 14. Sweden: 7 records, May 25 to June 20; 4 records, June 7 to 11. 



Gavia pad fie a (Lawrence) 

 PACIFIC LOON 



HABITS 



Spring. The Pacific loon is well named, for, except during the 

 breeding season, it is an abundant species along the Pacific coast of 

 this continent. The spring migration is well marked, as the follow- 

 ing observation, sent me by Mr. A. B. Howell, will illustrate: 



April 12, 1910, detached parties were migrating northward past Ensenada 

 Bay, Mexico, so frequently as to be almost one continuous flock. There were 

 thousands. May 2, 1913, I witnessed a similar flight near Santa Barbara, 

 California. 



Mr. Bernard J. Bretherton (1896) says that it arrives at Kodiak 

 Island 



about the middle of May. On account of its large size, and a habit it has of 

 flying round before it finally alights, makes the arrival of this bird very 

 noticeable. These birds approach the island from the east, flying very high 

 and in pairs, seeming at once to give their attention to selecting a suitable 

 place to nest. They fly from one lake to another, describing large circles in 

 the air, and giving forth their harsh cry, which gives rise to their native name 

 of "Googara." They were never noticed to arrive in the night, as many 

 migrants do. 



Mr. John Murdoch (1885) says that, at Point Barrow 



they arrive early in June, and before the ponds are open are generally flying 

 eastward as if they had come up along the open water at sea and were striking 

 across to the mouths of the rivers at the east. As the ponds open they make 

 themselves at home there, and evidently breed in abundance, though we were 

 unable to find the nest. One of their breeding grounds was evidently a swampy 

 lagoon some five or six miles inland, but the nests are inaccessible. 



