THE BIRD BOOK 



L.oon 

 Black-throated Loon 



7. LOON. Gavia immer. 



Range. North America north of the Mex- 

 ican boundary, breeding from the northern 

 parts of the United States northward. 



Unlike the Grebes, Loons do not build in 

 colonies, generally not more than one, or 

 at the most two pairs nesting on the same 

 lake or pond; neither do they seek the 

 marshy sloughs in which Grebes dwell, pre- 

 ferring the more open, clear bodies of 

 water. The common Loon may be known 

 in summer by the entirely black head and 

 neck with the complete ribbon of black and 

 white stripes encircling the lower neck and 

 the narrower one which crosses the throat. 

 The back is spotted with white. In some 

 sections Loons build no nest, simply scoop- 

 ing a hollow out in the sand, while in other 

 places they construct quite a large nest of 

 sticks, moss and grasses. It is usually plac- 

 ed but a few feet from the waters edge, so 

 that at the least suspicion the bird can slide 

 off its eggs into the water, where it can cope 

 with any enemy. The nests are nearly al- 

 ways concealed under the overhanging 

 bushes that line the shore; the one shown 

 in the full page illustration, however, was 

 located upon the top of an old muskrat 

 house. The two eggs which they lay are a 

 very dark greenish brown in color, with 

 black spots. Size 3.50x2.25. Data. Lake 

 Sunapee, N. H., June 28, 1895. Nest placed 

 under the bushes at the waters edge. Made 

 of rushes, weeds and grasses; a large struc- 

 ture nearly three feet in diameter. Col- 

 lector, H. A. Collins. 



8. YELLOW-BILLED LOON. Gavia adamsi. 



Range. Northwestern North America, along the Arctic and northern Alas- 

 kan coasts. 



The Yellow-billed Loon with the exception of its whitish or yellowish bill 

 in place of the black, is practically otherwise indistinguishable from the 

 common Loon. It averages somewhat larger in size. This is one of the most 

 northerly breeding birds and it is only within a very few years that anything 

 has been learned about the breeding habits. Their nesting habits and eggs 

 are precisely like the preceding except that the lattr average a little larger. 

 Size 3.60 x 2.25. 



9. BLACK-THROATED LOON. Gavia arctica. 



Range. From northern United States northward, breeding along the Arctic 

 Coast. 



This species can be easily separated from the Loon by the gray crown and 

 white streaks down the back of the neck. Its size, too, is about five inches 

 shorter. The nesting habits are the same as the Loons and the eggs have 

 rather more of an olive tint besides having the majority of spots at the 

 larger end. Size 3.10x 2.00. 



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