256 COLYMBUS GLACIALIS. 



correctness of this observation I have myself since 

 experienced in a winter voyage on the southern coasts 

 of the United States. 



This species seldom visits the shores of Britain, 

 except in very severe winters; but it is met with in 

 the north of Europe, and spreads along the arctic coast 

 as far as the mouth of the river Ob, in the dominions 

 of Russia. It is found about Spitzbergen, Iceland, and 

 Hudson's Bay. Makes its nest, in the more northern 

 regions, on the little isles of fresh water lakes : every 

 pair keep a lake to themselves. It sees well, flies very 

 nigh, and, darting obliquely, falls secure into its nest. 

 Appears in Greenland in April or the beginning of 

 May, and goes away in September or October, on the 

 first fall of snow.* It is also found at Nootka Sound f 

 and Kamtschatka. 



The Barabinzians, a nation situated between the river 

 Ob and the Irtisch, in the Russian dominions, tan the 

 breasts of this and other water fowl, whose skins they 

 prepare in such a manner as to preserve the down upon 

 them, and, sewing a number of these together, they sell 

 them to make pelisses, caps, &c. Garments made of 

 these are very warm, never imbibing the least moisture, 

 and are more lasting than could be imagined. J 



The natives of Greenland use the skins for clothing, 

 and the Indians ahout Hudson's Bay adorn their heads 

 with circlets of their feathers. 



Lewis and Clark's party, at the mouth of the Columbia, 

 saw robes made of the skins of loons, || and abundance 

 of these birds during the time that they wintered at 

 Fort Clatsop on that river.** 



The Laplanders, according to Regnard, cover their 

 lii-ads with a cap made of the skin of a loom, (loon,) 

 which word signifies in their language lame, because 

 the bird cannot walk well. They place it on their 

 head in such a manner, that the bird's head falls over 

 their brow, and its wings cover their ears. 



* PENNANT. j- COOK'S Last Voyage, ii. p. 257, Am. ed. 



1 LATHAM. Arctic Zoology. \\ GASS'S Journal. 



** History of the Expedition, vol. ii, p. 189. 



