* LIFE HISTOEIES OF NOBTH AMBBICAN DIVING BIEDS. 51 



lan can the adults, in spite of the preceding conclusion. Progression, however, 

 I never by walking, but by frog-like leaps. Diving, catching flsh or swallowing 

 lem head first are almost congenital instincts, much improved by practice 

 'ithin the first week. There is no instinctive fear in these young birds. It is 

 robable that the young loons instinctively recognize the usual rolling, laugh- 

 jr-like call of the parents, judging from their reaction to the notes of the giant 

 ingfisher. 



Mr. F. A, Shaw, writing to me of the habits of loons at Sebago 

 jake, Maine, says : 



When the loon family is approached by boat, the parent bird retires to a safe 

 listance and by loud cries and by flapping the wings on the water endeavors 

 draw attention from the little ones to herself. If closely pursued the young, 

 ven In their downy first plumage, will dive and swim under water for several 

 eet. I have seen them dive and swim under clear, calm water, and bright 

 ubbles would stand on their little backs. On returning to the surface, they 

 TOUld shake themselves and their downy covering would be perfectly dry. 



Audubon (1840) says, of the food and development of the young: 

 The young of the loon are covered at birth with a kind of black stifE down 

 ind in a day or two after are led to the water by their mother. They swim 

 ind dive extremely well even at this early stage of their existence, and after 

 leing fed by regurgitation for about a fortnight, receive portions of fish, aquatic 

 nsects, and small reptiles, until they are able to maintain themselves. Dur- 

 ng this period, gray feathers appear among the down of the back and belly, 

 ind the black quill feathers of the wings and tail gradually elongate. They 

 ire generally very fat, and so clumsy as to be easily caught on land, if their 

 retreat to the water is cut off. But should you miss your opportunity and the 

 Dirds succeed in gaining the liquid element, into which they drop like so many 

 terrapins, you will be astonished to see them as It were run over the water 

 (vith extreme celerity, leaving behind them a distinct furrow. When the 

 young are well able to fly, the mother entices them to remove from the pond 

 ar lake on which they have been bred, and leads them on the vising to the near- 

 est part of the sea, after which she leaves them to shift for themselves. Now 

 and then, after this period, the end of August or beginning of September, I 

 biave still seen the young of a brood, two or three in number continuing to- 

 gether until they were induced to travel southward, when they generally set 

 out singly. 



Mr. Cecil Swale writes, in a letter to Mr. W. E. Saunders: 



When a pair of young ones can fly, the parents appear to call in another 

 pair to celebrate and they certainly do It; for several years we have noticed 

 that on one particular day, and only one that summer, six loons will be seen 

 In the air at once making a lot of noise ; four of the birds seem equally strong 

 ind make wide circles round the other two. It is generally August before this 

 happens. 



August seems rather early for young loons to be flying, as they 

 are usually not strong on the wing until the middle ot- last of Sep- 

 tember. 



PlmrMges. — The young loon, when first hatched is completely cov- 

 ered with soft, thick, short down; the entire upper parts including 

 the head, neck, chest, and sides are dark colored, " fuscous black " on 

 jrown and back, "fuscous" on throat and sides; only the central 

 55916— 19— Bull. 107 5 



