258 



X0KTI1 AMERICAN FAUNA. 



Ino. 27. 



Resolution to Aylnier Lake in 1907, but as most abundant on Great 

 Slave Lake. a 



Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan). Red-throated Loon. 



The red-throated loon is the commonest representative of its genus 

 in this region. It breeds abundantly from Great Slave Lake north- 

 ward and probably to some extent south of that latitude. 



In the summer of 1901 several loons, apparently of this species, 

 were seen on Lily Lake, Alberta, May 2. Several were seen on 

 Great Slave Lake near Stone Island, June 10. On a semibarren 

 island about 50 miles north of Fort Resolution, where we were 

 detained by high winds July 11 to 14, five pairs were found breed- 



Fig. 15. Nesting pond of red-throated loon (Gavia stellata), Loon Island, Great Slave 



Lake. 



ing. Several shallow ponds, from 5 to 50 yards wide and connect- 

 ing with the lake at times of high water, extend nearly across the 

 central part of the island, and each was occupied by a pair of loons, 

 together with their two young, a few days old (fig. 15). The age of 

 the different broods varied but a day or two. The nests, rather well 

 made of dry grass, were placed at the margins of the ponds, usually 

 in a patch of grass, and in one or two cases still contained the 

 abandoned egg shells. When the nesting pond was approached, the 

 male usually flew away, but the female invariably refused to leave 

 her offspring, and if absent soon appeared and alighted beside them, 

 diving, swimming about, and encouraging them in their efforts to 



"Auk, XXV. p. 68, l'JOS. 



