11 



7. Gavia immer ( Brunn . ) . Loon. 



This wild inhabitant of the northern solitudes is 

 one of the rarest of the many birds which are known to 

 breed in the state. Inquiries from many of the fore- 

 most ornithologists of the state have failed to throw any 

 additional light upon the status of the Loon as a breeding 

 bird, .and it now seems as tho the one authentic instance of 

 its nest being found rests upon the record of the author 

 in the Auk. It is possible, however, that several pairs 

 may still nest on some of the wild, mountain lakes in the 

 interior of Pike County, and search should be made for them 

 in that locality. 



144. Aix sponsa ( Linn .) . Wood Duck. 



This, the most beautiful of all our waterbirds, 



is now almost extinct as a summer resident. Twenty-five 



years ago it was fairly common from April 1 to October, 



breeding on retired lakes and placid streams. Now it is 



pare even as a migrant, while I have been unable to find 



data of an authentic Pennsylvania nest during the la3t 



twenty years, tho a few scattered pairs still undoubtedly 



nest here. Unless stringently protected at all times, the 



may 

 Wood Duck A soon take a place along with the Passenger 



Pigeon. 



It formerly bred locally and in solitary pairs on 



the Pennypack Creek quite close to Philadelphia, where 



