86 LOON. 



them when leaving the nest. The J'oung are born c-OTered 

 ^^ith down and can swim at hirtli. The Pied-billed 

 Grebe is one of our most aquatic Ijirds. When pursued, 

 it prefers diving to flight, and the marvelous rapidity 

 with which it can disappear from the surface of the 

 water, to reappear in a quite unexpected place, justifies 

 its reUance on its own natatorial powers. It can swim 

 under water with only its bill exposed, when it becomes 

 practically invisible. 



When on land Grebes progress awkwardly. They 

 can, it is said, stand erect on their toes, Ijut, when resting, 

 support themselves on the whole length of the foot or 

 tarsus (see Fig. S, the Great Aukj. 



On the -wing Grebes resemble small Ducks, Irat their 

 pointed bill and their feet stretched out behind the ludi- 

 meutary tail will serve to distinguish them. 



LooNS. (Family Urinatiirid^e.) 



The Loon, like its small relati^'e the Grebe, is known 



to almost every one by name, but only those ^vho have 



j^gj,^ visited its summer haunts among the 



Urinatnr iniber. Northern lakes and heard its ^vild call 



Plate III. p.^^ ] ,g g,^lil ^^ know it. Kuttall writes 



of its cry as "the sad and wolfish call of the solitary 

 Loon, which, like a dismal echo, seems slowly to invade 

 the ear, and, rising as it jiroceeds, dies away in the aii-." 

 It " may be heard sometimes for two or three miles, wlien 

 the bird, itself is invisible, or i-educed almost to a speck 

 in the distance." The Loon is as aquatic in habits as the 

 Grelje, but is much stroTiger on the ■^'ing. It migrates 

 by day, and probably also by night, and we may some- 

 times see it passing over — a large, ducklike bird — in 

 March and Gctolier. 



When on land, it is nearly helpless, progressing awk- 



