FLYERS, SWIMMERS, AND DIVERS 247 



fast table. Reliable captains say the same birds follow a 

 ship from our shores all the way across the Atlantic. 



The Loon 



Length — 31 to 36 inches. 



Male and Female — In summer: Upper parts glossy black, 

 showing iridescent violet and green tints. Back and 

 wings spotted and barred with white; white spaces lined 

 with black on the neck marking off black bands like 

 collars, and sides of breast streaked with black and white. 

 Breast and underneath white. Bill stout, straight, 

 sharply pointed, and yellowish green. Legs, at rear 

 of body, are short, buried, and feathered to heel joint. 

 Tail short. Feet black and webbed. In winter and 

 immature specimens: Upper parts blackish and feath- 

 ers margined with grayish, not spotted with white. 

 Underneath white with grayish wash at throat. 



Range — ^Northern part of Northern Hemisphere. In 

 North America breeds from the northern United States 

 to Arctic Circle, and winters from the southern limit of 

 its breeding range to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Season — A wandering winter resident. Most common in 



^ > the migrations from September to May, except in 

 mountain lakes. 



This largest and handsomest of the diving birds comes 

 down to our latitude in winter, when its favorite inland 

 lakes at the North begin to freeze over and the fish to fail, 

 and wanders about far from the haunts of men along the 

 seacoast or by the fresh waterways. Cautious, shy, fond 



