PUFFINS 



(II) Qavia stellata 



(Pont.) (Lat., starred or spotted). 



RED-THROATED LOON. Bill 

 more slender than that of other loons; 

 slightlj' concave at the nostrils, giving 

 it a slight up-turned appearance- 

 Plumage as illustrated. Notice that 

 the back of the adult has no white 

 markings while that of the winter 

 adult and immature bird is spotted 

 with white, being just the reverse in 

 this respect from the common Loon. 

 L., 2500; W., 11.00; Tar., 2.75; B., 

 2.00. Nest — On the ground close by 

 water. Eggs — Olive-brown, spotted 

 with black, 3.00 x 1.75. 



Range — Breeds from N. B., 

 Que. and Mackenzie, northward. 

 Winters from Me., the Great Lakes 

 and B. C. south to the Gulf. 



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spotted eggs are laid in a shallow depression, usually under 

 the shelter of some overhanging bush, close to the water's 

 edge, so the owner may slide off to safety should danger 

 approach. The young are covered with a soft brown down 

 and leave the nest as soon as hatched. 



In winter loons frequent the larger rivers and the sea- 

 coast. Great numbers of them pass the season is Chesa- 

 peake Bay. You can readily distinguish between the 

 Common and the Red-throated species by the smaller size 

 and white-spotted back of the latter. The Black- throated 

 Loon, which is similar to the Common in winter, but smaller, 

 rarely comes as far south as the United States 



Family ALCID^E. Auks Murees Puffins 



This family contains about thirty species, all strictly mari- 

 time. Most of them are found in North America, but chiefly 

 on the Pacific coast. They all agree in having but three 



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