70 BULLETIN 107, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
Food.—I find nothing published on the food of the Pacific loon 
except an occasional reference to one being seen flying inland with a 
fish in its bill, presumably for its young. Small fish probably con- 
stitute the principal part of its food. 
Behavior.—Coues (1877) gives an interesting account of the habits 
of this species on the coast of southern California; he writes: 
They were very plentiful about the Bay of San Pedro. The first thing that 
attracted my attention was their remarkable familiarity; they were tamer 
than any other waterfowl I have seen. They showed no concern at the near 
approach of a boat, scarcely availed themselves of the powers of diving, in 
which the whole family excels, and I had no trouble in shooting as many as I 
wanted. They even came up to the wharves, and played about as unconcerned 
as domestic G@ucks; they constantly swam around the vessels lying at anchor 
in the harbor, and all their motions, both on and under the clear water, could 
be studied to as much advantage as if the birds had been placed in artificial 
tanks for the purpose. Now two or three would ride lightly over the surface, 
with the neck gracefully curved, propelled with idle strokes of their broad pad- 
dles to this side and that, one leg after the other stretched at ease almost 
horizontally backward, while their flashing eyes, first directed upward with 
curious sidelong glance, then peering into the depths below, sought for some at- 
tractive morsel. In an instant, with the peculiar motion, impossible to de- 
scribe, they would disappear beneath the surface, leaving a little foam and 
bubbles to mark where they went down and I could follow their course under 
water; see them shoot with marvelous swiftness through the limpid element, as, 
urged by powerful strokes of the webbed feet and beats of the half-opened 
wings, they flew rather than swam; see them dart out the arrow-like bill, 
‘transfix an unlucky fish, and lightly rise to the surface again. While under 
water, the bubbles of air carried down with them cling to the feathers, and they 
seem bespangled with glittering jewels, borrowed for the time from their native 
element, and lightly parted with as they leave it, when they arrange their 
feathers with a slight shiver, shaking off the last sparkling drop. The 
feathers look as dry as if the bird had never been under water; the fish is 
swallowed head first, with a curious jerking motion, and the bird again swims 
at ease, with the same graceful curve of the neck. 
Mr. Wilfred H. Osgood (1904) says of its behavior in Alaska: 
It was exceedingly abundant along the Chulitna River, where from 8 to 15 
individuals were seen almost daily. These were generally seen going up and 
down the river, flying singly, or more often in pairs, about 100 yards above the 
water ond religiously following the course of the stream. They were quite 
wary und we seldom approached one on the water nearer than 150 yards, even 
when we were slipping noiselessly downstream. The adult birds, sitting on the 
water at a little distance, appear as if their heads were entirely white, particu- 
larly if a ray of sunlight bears on them. The rapidity with which they swim 
under water is amazing, as we repeatedly observed when one would dive at 
a point about 150 yards in front of our canoe and in a few moments appear 
at about the same distance astern. 
Macfarlane (1891) says that— 
The Pacific loon is noted for its peculiarly loud, weird, and prolonged shrill 
scream during the season of nidification. 
