LOONS. * 17 



with black. The young are active when 

 hatched and covered with down, dark-brown 

 above and whitish beneath. They dive well 

 when quite small, but when very young are 

 frequently carried about on the backs of their 

 parents. Both sexes are similar. 



4. LOON. 



Our largest species, 32. Easily recog- 

 nized in summer by the blackhead and neck. 

 There are white markings on the neck as giv- 

 en ill the figure on page 15, which, Lor/ever, 

 cannot be discerned any great distance, but 

 the white spots on the black back are more 

 easily seen. These are nearly square in form, 

 and are arranged in pairs at the extremity 

 of each feather or near it, fig 12. The bird 

 is white beneath, which may be best seen as 

 it rises to flap its wings or turns partly over 

 when preening itself. In winter, when the 

 head and neck are dusky above and white be- 

 neath, it may be known from the Red-throat- 

 ed Loon by the superior size and absence of 



