LITTLE AUK 



RED-THKOATED LOON 



Nov. 11, 1858. Goodwin 1 brings me this forenoon a 

 this year's loon, which he just killed on the river, — 

 great northern diver, but a smaller specimen than Wil- 

 son describes and somewhat differently marked. It is 

 twenty-seven inches long to end of feet by forty-four 

 and bill three and three quarters to angle of mouth ; 

 above blackish-gray with small white spots (two at end 

 of each feather). 2 Beneath, pure white, throat and all, 

 except a dusky bar across the vent. Bill chiefly pale- 

 bluish and dusky. You are struck by its broad, flat, 

 sharp-edged legs, made to cut through the water rather 

 than to walk with, set far back and naturally stretched 

 out backward, its long and powerful bill, conspicuous 

 white throat and breast. Dislodged by winter in the 

 north, it is slowly travelling toward a warmer clime, 

 diving in the cool river this morning, which is now full 

 of light, the trees and bushes on the brink having long 

 since lost their leaves, and the neighboring fields are 

 white with frost. Yet this hardy bird is comfortable and 

 contented there if the sportsman woidd let it alone. 



DOVEKIE; LITTLE AUK 



July 25, 1860. P. M. — To Mr. Bradshaw's, Way- 

 land, with Ed. Hoar. 



I was surprised to see among the birds which Brad- 

 shaw has obtained the little auk of Nuttall (JMergulus 



1 [John Goodwin, a Concord gunner and fisherman.] 



2 [The size and markings indicate this species in spite of its rarity in 

 fresh water in Massachusetts. J 



