THE CRY OF THE LOON 



263 



like a distressful howl, and again it resembles wild, unculti- 

 vated laughter. It is an expert diver and fisher, and in sum- 

 mer is at home all over the upper two-thirds of North Amer- 

 ica, breeding from our northern states to the Arctic Circle, 



COMMON MURRE. 



THE LOON. 



quite across the continent. In winter it migrates southward 

 to the Gulf and the Mexican boundary. 



Its eggs are two in number, of a dull-green color. The 

 newly hatched birds are covered with black down, and in 

 travelling the mother bird often swims with them upon her 

 back. The Loon rises from the water with considerable 



