74 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



ture of the Arctic tundra, where it can be seen at any time flying up 

 or down the rivers or to and from the tundra pools. The harsh, 

 goose-like, honking calls or the weird, shrill cries of this species may 

 be heard at all hours of the day, or even during the short Arctic 

 night, the most characteristic sounds of these northern solitudes. 

 Nelson (1887) says: 



At St. Michaels and the Yukon they arrive with the first open water from 

 May 12 to 20, and by the end of this month are present in large numbers. 

 Their arrival is at once announced by the hoarse, grating cries, which the 

 birds utter as they fly from place to place or float upon the water. When 

 the ponds are open on the marshes the red-throated loons take possession, 

 and are extremely noisy all through the first part of summer. 



Nesting. The nesting habits of this species are in no wise dif- 

 ferent from those of the other loons. Mr. Lucien M. Turner, in his 

 unpublished notes, gives the following good description of a typical 

 nest: 



A nest of dry grass stalks and blades, together with weeds and sticks, was 

 found on one of the small islets off the mouth of Whale River, Ungava, July 

 1, 1884. The interior of the nest was of fine grass and few feathers which 

 from the dampness of the situation or material used in construction of the nest 

 had become discolored beyond recognition. Three eggs, of the dark pattern of 

 coloration, were in this nest. They were quite fresh, the last egg had probably 

 been just deposited. The bird fluttered into the pool, on the margin of which 

 the nest was placed, and then floundered through the weeds and grass be- 

 yond from which she took to rapid flight and either she or her mate returned 

 after awhile and hovered around in circles uttering an occasional ka-ka-ka; 

 and, at times only a growling, single syllable of the note. 



Mr. M. Abbott Frazar (1887) took seven sets of eggs of this 

 species in southern Labrador and says that it 



breeds on the edges of the smaller ponds (often mere pools of surface water 

 only a few rods square), on the larger islands they make no nest, but simply 

 lay their eggs in a slight hollow on the bare ground, usually on a slight rise not 

 over 1 foot from the water's edge. The space about the egg is perfectly bare, 

 the grass or other vegetation being trampled flat. Hence the spot is easily dis- 

 covered, and the bird if sitting can be seen for a considerable distance. 



Audubon (1840) says: 



The nest was placed within a few feet of the water, and well-beaten tracks> 

 such as are made by otters, led to it. Whenever the birds went to this spot 

 they walked nearly erect in an awkward manner, but when they sat in their 

 nest they laid themselves flat on the eggs, in the manner of a goose or duck. 

 In no instance did they alight on the islands, but always on the water, at some 

 distance, when, after examining all around them for awhile, they crawled 

 silently out, and moved to the spot which contained their treasure. 



In northern Alaska, Nelson (1887) noted that the eggs "are laid 

 directly upon the ground, and the spot chosen is frequently wet and 

 muddy. One nest was found on frozen ground, and ice was floating 

 in the pond." 



