FAMILY XXVI. 



PYGOPODES, ILLIGER. 



GENUS LXVIII. COLYMBUS, Limrctis. 



291. COLYMBUS GLACIJLLIS, LINNAEUS AND WILSON. 



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON.* 

 WILSON, PLATE LXXIV. FIG. III. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS bird in Pennsylvania is migratory. In the 

 autumn it makes its appearance with the various feathered 

 tribes that frequent our waters ; and, when the streams 

 are obstructed with ice, it departs for the Southern 

 States. -J- In the months of March and April it is again 

 seen, and, after lingering- awhile, it leaves us for the 

 purpose of breeding. The loons are found along the 

 coast as well as in the interior; but in the summer 

 they retire to the fresh water lakes and ponds. We 

 have never heard that they breed in Pennsylvania, but 

 it is said they do in Missibisci pond, near Boston, 

 Massachusetts. The female lays two large brownish 

 eggs. They are commonly seen in pairs, and procure 

 their food, which is fish, in the deepest water of our 

 * rivers, diving after it, and continuing under for a length 

 of time. Being a wary bird, it is seldom they are killed, 

 eluding their pursuers by their astonishing faculty of 

 diving. They seem averse from flying, and are but 

 eldom seen on the wing. They are never eaten. 



The loon is restless before a storm ; and an expe- 

 rienced master of a coasting vessel informed me, that 

 he always knew when a tempest was approaching 

 by the cry of this bird, which is very shrill, and may 

 be heard at the distance of a mile or more. The 



* This article is by Mr Ord. 



f The loon is said to winter in the Chesapeake Bay. 



