BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 31 



breeding season had begun and they were long since due 

 in Canada. The nest of the Pacific Loon is usually a 

 mass of wet, decaying vegetation at the very edge of the 

 water, or sometimes floating among the rushes. Occa- 

 sionally it is lined with feathers. The bird follows the 

 grebe's fashion of covering the eggs during her absence, 

 but does not remain away all day as do the grebes. 

 The Loons are most devoted parents, carrying the little 

 ones pick-a-back as soon as hatched, and, in case of 

 attack by hunters, often rising with a great splash be- 

 tween the hunter and their brood, to cover the retreat 

 of the young. The food of all Loons consists largely of 

 fish, although they occasionally relish frogs, and to the 

 newly hatched young the mother brings the larvae of 

 water insects obtained by diving. These she lays on 

 the surface for the brood to pick up, instead of placing 

 them in the bills of the little ones. 



11. RED-THROATED LOON. — Gavia stellata. 

 Family : The Loons. 



Length: 25.50. 



Adults in Summer : Sides of head and neck light brownish gray ; throat 

 gray ; a triangular patch of rich chestnut on fore-neck ; erdwn and 

 broad stripe down back of neck finely streaked brownish black and 

 white ; back, wings, and tail dark grayish brown, finely specked 

 with white ; breast and belly white. 



Adults in Winter, and Young : Throat and fore-neck white ; upper 

 parts blackish, spotted with white. 



Downy Young : Upper parts blackish slate ; under parts dark gray. 



Geographical Distribution : Entire northern hemisphere, south in winter 

 as far as latitude 30°. 



Breeding Range : The arctic regions. 



Breeding Season : June 1 to August 1. 



