262 WEAK-WINGED DIVING BIRDS 



range includes Cuba, several others of the larger islands of 

 the West Indies and the Bermudas. 



Its prevailing color is brownish gray, with black throat and 

 chin. Its bill is dull white, with a broad, perpendicular band 

 of black crossing it at the middle, like a rubber band, to hold 

 the mandibles together. In size this bird is about as small 

 as a green-winged teal. 



THE LOON FAMILY 



Gaviidae 



The Loon, or Great Northern Diver,^ is a large, 

 showy, black-and-white bird, of such striking personality 

 that when once well seen it is not easily forgotten. In bulk 

 it is as large as an ordinary goose, and when standing erect, on 

 land, its height is about 25 inches. Its neck and head are 

 large and jet black, and the upper portion of the former is 

 encircled by a white collar which is formed of upright lines of 

 white dots. The breast is pure white, and the jet-black back 

 is marked by rows of rectangular white dots, or broken bars. 

 The legs join the body far down, near the tail, and when the 

 bird takes to the land, it rests on its feet, the lowest joint of 

 the legs (tarsi) and the tail, which lies flat upon the ground. 



Either on land or water this Loon is a very showy bird, 

 and also a bird possessing many of the mental traits which 

 when combined form what we call "character." Usually it 

 is very wide-awake, suspicious and difficult to approach; 

 but there are times when it will approach danger as if bent on 

 suicide. Its cry is loud and far-reaching. Sometimes it is 



' Gav'i-a im'her. 



