28 WATER BIRDS 



Adults in Winter, and Young : Plumage of upper parts without white ; 



under parts and throat white. 

 Downy Young : Uniform blackish ; belly nearly white. 

 Geographical Distribution : Northern part of northern hemisphere. 

 Breeding Range : Northern United States and throughout Canada to the 



arctic circle. 

 Breeding Season : Approximately, June 1 to August 15. 

 Nest : A slight hollow in the sand near the water ; sometimes roughly 



lined with dry reeds, sticks, or marsh grass. 

 Eggs : 2, rarely 3 ; olive, spotted with umber ; elliptical. Size 3.50 X 



2.20. 



On the loneliest lakes of California the common Loon, 

 known as Gavia imber, is a regular winter visitant, but 

 he shuns the coast whenever he can. Is this because 

 he likes the taste of fresh-water fish better than that of 

 sea fish ? Who knows ? Like those of all diving birds, 

 the Loon's stout legs are set well back, and propel its 

 heavy body with equal rapidity and ease on or under 

 the water. Its speed in submarine swimming has been 

 estimated to reach eight miles an hour and to continue 

 indefinitely with only the bill exposed. In this he uses 

 only his feet, the wings being folded tightly. All its 

 fish are caught by diving. Awkward and helpless on 

 land, where it uses wings to assist in locomotion, it leaves 

 the water only to nest. Its two greenish gray eggs are 

 laid upon a thin mat of grass in a slightly hollowed place 

 on the ground, and, in order to be as far as possible re- 

 moved from neighbors, the site chosen is usually a small 

 grass-covered islet. The young Loons are oval balls of 

 blackish down and are occasionally taken into the water 

 on the back of the adult bird. Their first attempts at div- 

 ing are very funny, and with all their efforts they are able 

 to submerge no more than their heads and necks, so that 



