70 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



Food. I find nothing published on the food of the Pacific loon 

 except an occasional reference to one being seen flying inland with a 

 fish in its bill, presumably for its young. Small fish probably con- 

 stitute the principal part of its food. 



Behavior. Coues (1877) gives an interesting account of the 

 habits of this species on the coast of southern California; he writes: 



They were very plentiful about the Bay of San Pedro. The first thing that 

 attracted my attention was their remarkable familiarity; they were tamer 

 than any other waterfowl I have seen. They showed no concern at the near 

 approach of a boat, scarcely availed themselves of the powers of diving, in 

 which the whole family excels, and I had no trouble in shooting as many as I 

 wanted. They even came up to the wharves, and played about as unconcerned 

 as domestic ducks; they constantly swam around the vessels lying at anchor 

 in the harbor, and all their motions, both on and under the clear water, could 

 be studied to as much advantage as if the birds had been placed in artificial 

 tanks for the purpose. Now two or three would ride lightly over the surface, 

 with the neck gracefully curved, propelled with idle strokes of their broad pad- 

 dles to this side and that, one leg after the other stretched at ease almost 

 horizontally backward, while their flashing eyes, first directed upward with 

 curious sidelong glance, then peering into the depths below, sought for some at- 

 tractive morsel. In an instant, with the peculiar motion, impossible to de- 

 scribe, they would disappear beneath the surface, leaving a little foam and 

 bubbles to mark where they went down and I could follow their course under 

 water; see them shoot with marvelous swiftness through the limpid element, as, 

 urged by powerful strokes of the webbed feet and beats of the half-opened 

 wings, they flew rather than swam; see them dart out the arrow-like bill, 

 transfix an unlucky fish, and lightly rise to the surface again. While under 

 water, the bubbles of air carried down with them cling to the feathers, and they 

 seem bespangled with glittering jewels, borrowed for the time from their native 

 element, and lightly parted with as they leave it, when they arrange their 

 feathers with a slight shiver, shaking off the last sparkling drop. The feathers 

 look as dry as if the bird had never been under water; the fish is swallowed 

 head first, with a curious jerking motion, and the bird again swims at ease, 

 with the same graceful curve of the neck. 



Mr. Wilfred H. Osgood (1904) says of its behavior in Alaska: 



It was exceedingly abundant along the Chulitna River, where from 8 to IS 

 individuals were seen almost daily. These were generally seen going up and 

 down the river, flying singly, or more often in pairs, about 100 yards above the 

 water and religiously following the course of the stream. They were quite 

 wary and we seldom approached one on the water nearer than 150 yards, even 

 when we were slipping noiselessly downstream. The adult birds, sitting on the 

 water at a little distance, appear as if their heads were entirely white, particu- 

 larly if a ray of sunlight bears on them. The rapidity with which they swim 

 under water is amazing, as we repeatedly observed when one would dive at 

 a point about 150 yards in front of our canoe and in a few moments appear 

 at about the same distance astern. 



Macfarlane (1891) says that 



The Pacific loon is noted for its peculiarly loud, weird, and prolonged shrill 

 scream during the season of nidification. 



