URINATOPJD.E — THE LOONS — URINATOR. 450 



example at San Diego ; and Dr. Cooper procured another — a fine male — at Santa 

 Barbara, in 1863, as late as April 27. 



Mr. E. Adams found it quite common on the shores of Norton Sound (" Ibi.s," 

 1878). The first example arrived there May 21, and soon afterward most of the 

 larger lakes had at least one pair of them as tenants. They seldom went out to 

 sea — and then apparently only for the purpose of feeding — but were continually 

 flying about the marshes, and diving and screaming upon the lakes. He describes 

 this Loon as being a '' complete Mocking-bird " in its imitation of harsh sounds, its 

 cry resembling by turns the squalling of a cat, the barking of a dog, the shrill laugh 

 of a man, or the qiiacking of a Duck ; and sometimes all these sounds are united in 

 one loud scream, as the bird dives into the lake in play. The nests were numerous, 

 and generally placed quite close to the water, on the banks of the lake. They con- 

 sisted merely of a little loose grass in a hollow ; a few were more carefully formed, 

 though none were lined with feathers or down. The eggs were two in number, of an 

 olive-greenish color, thinly spotted with dark brown. 



Mr. Bannister found this species abundant on the Island of St. Michael's. !Mr. 

 Dall speaks of it also as being common at the mouth of the Yukon, A single speci- 

 men was jKoeured on the rapids of the Yukon in July, 1867. Mr. Dall also found it 

 very abundant at Amchitka, in July, where it was breeding. It was seen nowhere 

 else in the Aleutian chain, and there it is only a summer resident. Six or eight were 

 observed at a time in the harbor of Amchitka, quite bold, and usually appearing in 

 the early morning or the dusk of evening. Crossing the island, Mr. Dall observed 

 a female with one young bird swimming in a pool of fresh water. Alarmed at his 

 approach, the mother settled down into the water until only her neck appeared above 

 the surface, when the little one immediately took up its position on her back. Wish- 

 ing to procure the plumage of the fledgling, he shot the young bird and picked it up. 

 Just then the male arrived from the coast with a small fish in his mouth, intended 

 for the young bird. Not seeing it, he uttered a mournful cry, which Avas replied 

 to by the female, who had remained in the pool without attempting to escape. For 

 some minutes these cries were kept up, when both birds took wing and disappeared, 

 still uttering low moaning cries. 



According to Mr. Swinhoe, several of these birds wander dow^n during the winter 

 to the coast of Formosa from the north ; but very few show any indications of the 

 Eed-throat, nearly all being in their winter plumage. 



Mr. H. Whitely obtained a single example of this species at Hakodadi, Japan, in 

 January; and Mr. Swinhoe has since met with it there in May ("Ibis," April, 1874). 

 It is given by Mr. T. L. Powys as occurring sparingly on the coast of Epirus and 

 Albania in winter. 



Mr. C. A. Wright ("Ibis," 1864) mentions it as occasional at Malta. Schombri 

 saw one in 1839, and another in 1841 ; and four birds in immature plumage were 

 taken at Gozo in the winter of 1858-1859. 



Mr. Wheelwright states that it is common in Lapland during the summer, but not 

 nearly as much so as the Black-throated species, in the midland districts. Both of 

 these Divers are said to cover up their eggs -when they leave their nests, in the 

 manner of the Grebes ; but this cannot be always the case, as in every instance 

 Mr, Wheelwright found the eggs uncovered. The Messrs. Godman also speak of it 

 as being abundant in Norway during the summer months. Almost every pond and 

 small lake had its pair, and many eggs were collected. 



Professor Newton states that this s])ecies breeds in Spitzbergen as far north as the 

 Seven Islands, lat. 80° 45', Eggs from Depot Holm and other places were obtained 



