58 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



History. 



The Red-throated Loon is mainly a salt-water bird while 

 it sojourns in Massachusetts, although occasionally it is seen 

 on some lake or river. Thoreau records in his journal that 

 John Goodwin brought him a Loon on November 11, 1858, 

 which he had killed on the river at Concord, and the descrip- 

 tion proves it to be a bird of this species. Probably, like 

 many other birds, it was oftener seen on fresh water in early 

 times than now. Dr. John C. Phillips records a specimen in 

 his collection taken on Wenham Lake in October, 1896.^ It is 

 still not uncommon on the Great Lakes, and David Bruce of 

 Brockport, N. Y., stated that he had found it on Lake Ontario 

 during every month of the year.^ In severe weather, when 

 the lakes freeze, this bird, like the common Loon, is sometimes 

 taken on the ice, from which it is unable to rise, and is easily 

 captured. In autumn it may be seen in small parties or flocks 

 floating and feeding near our coasts. Like Grebes and some 

 other water-fowl, it often lies on its side or back while afloat, 

 exposing its white under parts, while engaged in dressing or 

 preening the plumage. This species migrates mainly along 

 the coast in autumn, but as it is not so commonly seen there 

 in spring, some portion of the flight may go north through the 

 interior. 



Its habits are similar to those of the common Loon. It is 

 perhaps equally difficult to shoot on the water. When sur- 

 prised on land it seeks to escape by a series of hops or leaps, 

 using both wings and feet. 



Mergansers (Subfamily Merginae). 



The Ducks, Geese and Swans comprise the family Anatidce, 

 which includes five subfamilies, the Mergansers, the River 

 Ducks, the Sea Ducks, the Geese and the Swans. In the plan 

 of classification adopted by the American Ornithologists Union, 

 the Mergansers or Sheldrakes come first. They are much 

 hunted, though not regarded highly as game. This family of 



1 Phillips, John C: Auk, 1911, p. 197. 



2 Eaton, Elon Howard: Birds of New York, 1909, Vol. I, p. 104. 



