44 

 SUBORDER— CEPPHI. LOONS AND AUKS. 



FAMILY GAVIID.E. LOONS. 



General Description. The Loons axe large Divers with straight, sharply pointed bills 

 and with the feet fully webbed (Figure 2, p. 18). In the adult state they are coloured 

 in strikingly contrasting patterns, mostly black and white. 



Distinctions. Larger than Ducks and with shorter necks than Geese. These points 

 and the sharp, pointed bill are diagnostic. Tails more evident than in the Grebes. 



Field Marks. Size, length of neck, and bill. In flight, the feet are trailed behind 

 the tail. 



Nesting. On low shores in the immediate vicinity of water where they can dive 

 almost directly into the water from the nest. 



The Loons are probably even better divers than the Grebes but they 

 rise less easily from the water, and unless there is a good breeze that they 

 can face, require a long splashing start over the surface before being wing 

 borne. 



Economic Status. Their food is composed almost entirely of fish, 

 but owing to the small number of Loons usual in any one locality, their 

 direct economic importance is small. 



Genus — Gairia. Loons. 



7. Common loon, great northern diver, fr. — le flongeon a collier, 

 le httard. Gavia immer. L, 32. Plate I B. 



Distinctions. The adult Common Loon is easily separated from other Loons by its 

 marked coloration, but juveniles are somewhat more difficult to differentiate. Size and 

 the lack of spots on the back will separate it from the Red-throated Loon with which it 

 is most easily confused. 



Field Marks. Size and unspotted back of the juveniles as above. Most Loons seen 

 on our inland lakes are of this species. 



Nesting. Close to the water on the boggy or rocky shores of inland lakes where, 

 when alarmed, the Loons can slide directly into the water. The rather bulky nest is built 

 of decaying vegetable matter. 



Distribution. Over the whole of Canada, breeding wherever conditions are suitable 

 and often remaining in the winter until the last open water is closed by ice. 



Most frequenters of our waterways and lakes are familiar with the 

 long loud laugh of the Loon. The Loon has another call beginning low, 

 rising high, and then dropping suddenly ; and other loud wild notes. It is 

 often noisy at night or just before a storm and birds frequently call to 

 and answer one another across the water. 



Owing to the constant encroachments of settlement, and the consequent 

 disturbance of its nesting places, the Loon has been growing scarcer of 

 late years and in many of its old haunts it is seldom seen now except 

 during migration. However, there are still many lonely lakes in the 

 great uninhabited north where it can live and breed undisturbed, and 

 the immediate loss of this picturesque species need not be anticipated. 

 Proper local protection, enforced by an awakened public opinion, would 

 undoubtedly restock our lakes and ponds in summer as well as augment 

 the number that make passing visits. 



Economic Status. Although the Loon is a large bird the capacity of 

 its gullet limits the fish it takes to comparatively small sizes. This fact, 

 taken in connexion with the small number of birds on the smaller lakes and 

 the immense numbers of fish in the larger bodies of water, makes its depre- 

 dations economically unimportant. The species, therefore, should not be 

 destroyed. 



