LOONS 



(7) Qavia immer 



{BrUn.) (IlaL, gull; Swedish, goose). 



LOON; GREAT NORTHERN 

 DIVER. Ad. ill summer — Bill, 

 long, stout, pointed, black. Iris red. 

 Plumage beautifully patterned as 

 shown. In winter and hn. — Bill 

 grayish. Iris brown. Upper parts 

 brownish-black, with gray edging of 

 the feathers on the back; below white; 

 cheeks more or less mottled. L., 

 31.00-36.00; Ex., 52.00; W., 14.00; 

 Tar., 3.40; B., 2.90. Nest — A de- 

 pression near the water's edge. Two 

 olive-brown eggs, sparingly spotted 

 with black, 3.50 x 2.20. 



Range — Breeds from Mass., N- 

 Y., northern Ohio and northern Cal., 

 northward; winters from southern 

 N. E., the Great Lakes and E. C. 

 south to the Gulf coast. 



Family GAVIID^. Loons 



Five species of loons compose the Gaviidas; all five of these 

 are found in North America and three within the territory 

 included by this book. Loons are large, powerful birds; in 

 fact the smallest of the loons is larger than the largest of the 

 grebes. A still greater external difference between the two 

 families is seen, however, in the shapes of the feet. Loon feet 

 are fully webbed, while the toes of grebes have lobes. 



Loons have a perfect form for diving and for swimming, 

 either on the surface or below it. The heavy pointed bill 

 cleaves the water like a knife, and the long tapering body 

 offers but little more resistance to a forward motion. The 

 tarsus is narrow and deep, giving great power to the thrust 

 of the legs and alloTOng them to come to a forward position 

 again with very little effort. The feet are large and the 

 webs broad. 



Grebes are skulkers; they have poor weapons either for 



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