8 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



This Species is more common on the St. Clair Flats and at 

 Point Pelee than the Horned Grebe. Both species build a float- 

 ing nest among the rushes, and both cover their eggs when they 

 leave the nest. Set 4-6. ( W. Saunders.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



We have four representatives of this species in our collection. 

 Two, a male and female, were shot at Ottawa, Ontario, by Mr. 

 G. R. White, in 1884, another at Toronto in 1875 and the fourth 

 in Victoria harbour, B.C., January 24th, 1890, by Spreadborough. 

 One set of five eggs taken on St. Clair Flats, Ontario, June 12th, 

 1893, received from Mr. Raine. 



Family II. GAVIID^. Loons. 

 IV. GAVIA. FoRSTER. 1788. 



T. Great Northern Diver, Loon. 



Gavia imber (Gunn.) Allen. 1897. 



This is one of our most widely distributed birds, breeding from 

 Greenland (Arct. Man.) in the east to Alaska {Turner) in the west. 

 Macfarlane found it breeding at Fort Anderson, in Lat. 68° 30', 

 and it is frequent as far south as Lat. 49°, so that it is to be found 

 throughout the whole northern part of the continent. Nearly 

 every small lake throughout the country, except in the prairie 

 region, is tenanted in summer by a pair or more of these birds, 

 and the larger lakes by many pairs. All the members of the 

 Geological Survey staff who have found loons' nests agree with 

 Macfarlane that they lay only two eggs, and that no nest is built, 

 but a small depression made in the gravel close to the waters of 

 the lake. In the Laurentian country the eggs are always placed 

 on greenish gravel and are hard to see. In two cases only have 

 nests been found on rock and these were close to the water. 



Breeding Notes. — Nest always placed near the water, and 

 composed of a little grass. Eggs two. Young usually hatched 

 the last week in June or first week in July. The young are quite 

 helpless for a few days, either riding on the mother's back or 

 hanging on to her tail. I have paddled up to them in a boat on 

 several occasions, and they have sat upon the water as helpless 

 as a leaf until I have taken them up in my hand. They soon 

 become able to take care of themselves and can swim and dive 



