494 RF.D-THROATED LOOiV. 



the second or third week in June, and, as I am informed by Mr. J. C. Mead, the young 

 may be seen in company with their parents, by the first of August, not only swimming but 

 diving well, even at this early age. Mr. Mead also states that the adults are extremely 

 solicitous for the safety of their offspring, and if their young chance to be captured, they 

 will follow the boat, crying loudly, and often remaining about the spot where the dospoiler 

 left the water, for some days. The Great Loons are migratory and I have shot them in 

 Middle Florida, but they are not common so far south. 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALI8. 



Red-throated. Loon. 

 Colymbus septentrion<ilii LINN., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 220. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form,'robut. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Sides and upper parts, brownish-black, thickly spotted with 

 oval marks of white and the tail is tipped with it. Top of head, greenish-black narrowly streaked with wliite. Sides of 

 head and throat, bluish-ash, with a large triangular patch of chestnut on latter. Beneath, white. Bill, black, iris, ruby- 

 red, and feet, greenish. Young, ashy-brown above, each feather having two subterminal spots of white. White beneath, 

 occasionally tinged with ashy on throat. Iris, brown; bill, bluish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known in adult stage by the red throat; in young by the suhterininal spotting to feathers above. Distributed in sum- 

 mer, from Labrador, northward. Winters from Grand Menan, southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens. Length, 25'50; stretch, 42 - 00; wing, 11-30; tail, 2'25; bill, 1'87; tarsus, 2'88. 

 Longest specimen, 27'CO; greatest extent of wing, 43'00; longest wing, 1 1 65; tail, 2 - 55; bill, 2 - 00; tarsus, 3'M. Shortest 

 specimen, 24'00; smallest extent of wing, 41'00; shortest wing, ll'OO; tail, 1-95; bill, 1'75; tarsus, 2'75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground near water, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Egys, two or three in number, pointed oval 

 in form, deep greenish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with very dark-brown. Dimensions from T75x2'65 to T90 

 X3-00. 



HABITS. 



I procured a pair of adult Red-throated Loons at the Magdalen Islands in June, but 

 did not see any more, nor do I think that they usually breed there. These Loons are, how- 

 ever, very abundant in the coast waters of Massachusetts and southward, in autumn and 

 winter, behaving much like the larger species. I do not think that either of these Loons 

 when adult, assume a winter dress different from that worn in summer, but that the birds 

 found with us are merely immature specimens, for I have met with the present species in 

 full spring dress, in December. These birds are not very common in the interior but are 

 occasionally found on small ponds. None of the Loons can rise from the ground, nor from 

 shallow water, nor from deep water, if it be only a few yards in diameter, as they are 

 obliged to swim rapidly for some distance, before flying, in order to gain headway. 



COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 



Black-throated Loon. 

 Colymbus Arcticus Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 221. 



DESCRIPTION. ' 



SP. CH Form, robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Chin, throat, and neck in front, black with purplish reflec- 

 tions, becoming ashy-blue above, and separated from the black by a series of white lines. Body above and sides, black. 

 Crescent of short lines on throat, spots in bands on back and upper wing coverts, streaks on sjdes of breast, and under parts, 

 wliite. Line across base of tail beneath and lower coverts, dusky. Iris, ruby-red, bill, black, and feet, slaty. \oung, 

 very dark-brown above, the feathers having broad ashy-gray margins. Side of head, ashy very finely streaked with brown. 

 Beneath wliite becoming ashy on neck. Sides of body and tips of lower tail coverts, dusky. Bill, bluish and iris, brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Recognized in the adult stage by the black throat, and in young, by the broad, bluish-gray margin to feathers above. 

 Distributed in summer throughout the Arctic Regions, wandering southward in winter. DIMENSIONS. Length, 2900: 

 stretch, 39'50; wing, 12'00; tail, 2'75; bill, 2'45; tarsus, 2'90. 



