GEE AT CEESTED GEEBE. Ill 



Their food, procured by diving, is made up of small fish 

 and young fry, Crustacea, water-insects and their larvae, small 

 frogs, tadpoles, and parts of plants; and 'it is a remarkable 

 fact that the specimens obtained of this species, invariably 

 prove to have feathers in their stomachs, from the breast of 

 the bird itself.' 



The note sounds like the words 'cuck, cuck, cuck,' and 

 'craaerr, craserr.' 



The Loon breeds in fresh water, and makes its nest, such 

 as it is, early in the year in the month of April. It is a 

 very large and careless mass of weeds, flags, and other water- 

 plants, partly sunk under, and partly raised above the water, 

 the top being slightly hollowed. The general width is about 

 a foot or a little over, the height about half as much. 



The eggs are three or four, and occasionally five. Four 

 appears to be the usual average number, but one of them is 

 generally addled. They are concealed by fragments of rushes 

 placed over them, and if these be removed others are added. 

 Their colour is white or greenish white. 



Yarrell says, 'The parent birds are very careful of their 

 young, taking them down with them for security under their 

 wings when they dive.' According to Meyer, the birds pair 

 for life, and haunt the same nesting-place year after year, 

 both assisting in the work of nidification. The young swim 

 about as soon as hatched. 



If the nest or eggs be taken, the bird continues laying 

 over and over again. 



Male; weight, about two pounds and a half; length, one 

 foot nine inches to one foot ten; bill, dusky along the top, 

 the base vermilion red, the tip pale horn-colour; between the 

 bill and the eye is a bare red space, that is to say, in the 

 breeding-season, for afterwards it fades to a dusky colour. Iris, 

 bright but pale crimson or pink red; over the eye is a white 

 streak. Forehead and crown, greyish brown; the crest of this 

 bird, which is long and silky, is erectible at pleasure, but 

 ordinai-ily stands out backward like two long ears; it is as 

 the head, the sides of which shade into yellowish red and 

 whitt, and a ruff round the neck, displayed at picture, bright 

 ferruginous, edged below with glossy greyish black, often with 

 purple and green reflections; the back of the head and the 

 neck next to the ruff are of a chesnut red and brownish 

 black colour; nape, dusky brown tinged with grey, and often 

 glossed with green and purple. Chin, throat, and breast 



