p 



%-■ 



458 



THE DIVING BIRDS — PYGOPODES. 



*'': 



Hab. Northern part of tliu northern huiuisphL-ie, south in winter nearly acrosH the Unitetl 

 States. 



Si'. Char. Adult, suvvner plumaije : Heml and neck soft velvety cinereous, tiie crown streakeil 

 with dusky ; nape dusky, streaked with white ; a lonj^'itudiiial, wedj,'e-sliaped patcii of rich ciiest- 

 nut covering the foieneck, the lower, truncated, edye adjoining flu; white of the juguluin, the upjK'r 

 point reaching to the lower part of the throat. U|>per jiarts dusky slate, more or less speckled with 

 white. Lower parts entirely pure white, except along the sides, lieneath the wings, and on the 

 crissuni, where more or less mixed with slate-color. Bill deep black, the extreme point yellowish, 

 and the culmcn sometimes Muish ; iris carmine ; "tarsi ami toes bluish white, each joint of the 

 latter, and the whole of the outer toe, black" (L. M. TfuXKii, MS.). H'iukr jdtimiuje : Similar 

 to the above, but tiie whole lower half of the head, with entire foreneck, white, the nape ami uiiper 

 half of the head uniformly marked with broad streaks of dusky and narrower ones of white, and 

 the upper parts more uniformly and distinctly speckled with white. Bill brownish or grayish. 

 iJownij youwj: ''The young are at lii'st covered with a dense elastic down of a grayish lilack color, 

 tinged with brown. The bill is bluish black, its basal edges yellow ; the iris reildish brown " 

 (Aidl'uon). 



Total length, 23.0(>-2G.(H) inches; extent, 38.5t)-43.()0 ; wing, 10.00-11. 6t) ; culmen, 2.25; 

 tarsus, 2.75. 



Tlie Red-throated Diver is an Arctic species coiumoii to all parts of the north- 

 ern heniisphere, found in equal abundance in Asia, Europe, and America, in summer 

 breeding to the highest extent of available lands, and in winter waiulering soutii- 

 ward to a varying and indefinite extent. 



According to Professor Iteinhardt, this is a resident sjjccies in Greenland. Cai)- 

 tain Blakiston cites it as procured from Hudson's Bay ; Mr. Bernard lioss, as abun- 

 dant on the Mackenzie liiver. Ilearne ("'.lourneyj'' p. 4'SO) states that it is also 

 known as a Loon in Hudson's 15ay, but that it is far inferior in size to the other 

 species of Loon, seldom weighing more than three or four jxjunds. This bird, as well 

 as the other species, is an exci.'llent diver. It always feeds on fish ; and while in i)ur- 

 suit of its prey, frequently becomes entangled in t'le fishing-nets set at the mouths 

 of creeks and small rivers. It is the most numerous species, and frequently Hies in 

 considerable flocks. Like the other Loons, it makes its nests at the edge of the 

 water, and lays two egg.s, which, though very rank and lishy, are always eaten, as 

 well by the English residents as by the Indians. 



Mr. Kumlien found this Loon very common in all the localities visited by him, 

 beginning to nest on the L'pper Cumberlaiul waters about the last of .lune, the eggs 

 being placed on the bare rocks, with very litth; grass or moss beneath them. The 

 birds were very noisy during the niating-season, and remained as long as the water 

 was open. 



Sir John Richardson states that the Red-throated Diver frequents the shores of 

 Hudson's Bay up to the most northern extremity of Melville I'eninsula, and that it 

 is also abundant on the interior lakes. It is said to lay two eggs, by the margin of 

 the water. The eggs brought home by Tarry were 2.92 inches in length and 1.75 

 in breadth, and of a pale oil-green color, blotched with undx-r. 



This species is found on the Atlantic coast only as a migrating visitor in spring 

 and fall. At the latter season the visitors are principally youi g birds. CJiraud 

 states that it rarely occurs on the coast of Long Island except in the immature 

 plumage. Dr. Wood states ("American Naturalist," III. 518) that immature birds 

 of this species are very common in Long Island Sound, but that the adult is never, 

 so far as he knows, seen there. 



According to I )r. Cooper, it is found on the Tacific coast as far south as San Diego. 

 It is nu)re rare than are the tN.o other species of Loons. Dr. Ileerman obtained one 



