388 



COLYMBIDiE : LOONS. 



Family COLYMBID^ : Loons. 



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON. 



COLYMBUS TOKQUATUS BrunU. 



Chars. Black ; below from the breast white, with dark touches on 

 the sides and vent ; back with numerous square white spots ; 

 head and neck iridescent with violet and green, having a patch 

 of sharp white streaks on each side of the neck and another on 

 the throat ; bill black. Young : dark gray above, the feathers 

 with paler edges ; below, white from the bill, the sides dusky ; 

 bill yellowish-green and dusky. Length, 2.50-3.00 feet ; extent 

 about 4.00; wing about 14 inches ; tarsus, 3.00 or more ; longest 

 toe and claw, 4.00 or more ; bill, 3.00 or less, at base i.oo deep 

 and 0.50 wide ; the culraen, commissure, and gonys all gently 

 curved. 



Fig. 82. — Great Northern Diver. 



The Loon is properly to be classed as resident in 

 New England, being known to breed occasionally at 

 diiferent points within our limits, and regularly in north- 



