THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 97 



in number of a dark olive brown, with black spots, and 

 three and a half by two and one-fourth inches in size. 



The birds breed generally from the northern United 

 States northward, although a few have been known to 

 breed on the lakes of northern New Jersey. They are 

 common on the coast and many winter in the southern 

 part of the state, although the larger proportion goes 

 farther south, some as far as the Gulf of Mexico. They 

 are most plentiful between April 12 and 30, and again 

 between October 3 and November 1. They are less nu- 

 merous inland and are never seen there after the ponds 

 and streams are covered with ice. 



They feed exclusively on fish. 



Loon, Red" Throated. This bird is seven inches short- 

 er in leugth than the preceding; in winter the plumage is 

 very similar to the winter dress of the common Loon, but 

 the feathers of the back are more pointed, which makes 

 the borders V-shaped instead of rounded; in summer it is 

 greenish black above, with the patch of black and white 

 stripes on the neck as in the preceding species; top and 

 sides of the head, plain drab; throat, bright rusty red; 

 rest of lower surface, white. The bird is rare in New 

 Jersey and occurs only in winter and during migrations. 



Jffallard. See Mallard Duck. 



Jlarlin, Brown. See Marbled Godwit. 



flurlhi. Ring-tailed. See Hudsonian Godwit. 

 Marsh Hen. See King Rail. 



Martin, See. See Kingbird. 



.JMartin, Purple. Length, eight inches; extent, six- 

 teen inches; bill, one-third of an inch, black; the male is 

 a shining blue black, the wings and tail being somewhat 



