134 



THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



Genus GAVIA. Forster. 



QAVIA IMBER (Gunn). 

 Loon. 



Common Loon. 15ii; Loon. Nohthekn Diver. 



Adult in summer : Heud aud neck 

 Ijliick, .slio wing gi-een iu some lights ; a 

 patcli of white^ streaked with black on 

 the throat and sides of the neck ; under- 

 parts, white; back aud wings, black, 

 streaked and spotted with white; 

 wliere tlie white spots occur there are 

 usually two spots near the end of each 

 featlier; sides of breast, streaked witli 

 black. 



Advlt in viinter and immature: 

 Head, gi'ayisli ; Ijack, grayisli brown 

 or dusky brown, without .spots ; uiider- 

 parts, white ; throat, often tinged with 

 graj' ; primaries, dark ; tail feathers, 

 tipped with grajf. 



Lenr/tJi: 30 to 36; wing, 12 to 

 14.50; bill, 2.00 to 3.10; height of bill 

 at nostril, about .80; tarsus, 3 to 3.60. 



Distribution : Nortliern portion of 

 Northern Hemisphere, ranging south 

 in winter to Gulf of Mexico and Lower 

 f'aliforuia. Breeds from Northern 

 United States northward. 



Nest and eggs: Nest, a mass of 

 grass or weeds and leaves, close to 

 water, more commonly on islets or 

 shores of some pond or lake. Two 

 eggs, grayish brown or greenish 

 brown, heavily blotched with dark 

 brown, and measure 3. .50 x 2.25. 



Although less numerous than foiiiieily, Loons aie coiumon on the Athuitic 

 coast during migrations, and the wild, laugh-like note is a weU-knf)\vn sound 

 on shore and lake. 



