THE HABITS OF THE LOON. 
By Dr. Morris Gisss. 
There are three birds which are known to 
bear the title of loon; they are the black- 
throated diver or loon, the red-throated species 
and the common loon or great Northern diver. 
The first two mentioned are not taken within 
our bounds during the larger portion of the 
year, and are eminently Arctic birds, breeding 
from our northern confines to the Arctic circle. 
The common loon, known so well to hunters, 
is scientifically recorded as Urinator imber, 
and its habitat ranges over nearly the whole of 
North America from the Mexican border. It 
ranges in winter well to the south, but is only 
found breeding along our Northern boundary 
and in elevated sections in the mountainous 
regions of the West, sometimes well to the 
south, 
The common loon is a well-known bird to 
those persons who have their eyes open for ob- 
servation of the creatures of lakes and rivers, 
but to that class who never observe either on 
land or water and do not study our birds and 
mammals, he remains a shrouded mystery, 
even where he is actually abundant six months 
of the year. Considered from all points, for its 
peculiar ways in the water, remarkable ana- 
tomical structure, curious breeding habits and 
astonishing call notes, or song, if you wish to 
call it so, this bird of great swimming and liv- 
ing powers is one of our most interesting spe- 
cies. Carefully observed, the habits will be 
found so very odd as to. command our strict 
attention, and our admiration will increase as 
we endeavor to comprehend peculiarities and 
get acquainted with this singular species. 
The loon is quite variable in its vernal ap- 
pearance in this locality (Michigan), sometimes 
appearing in late February and again not till 
after March 20, It is often observed swimming 
about in the open spots in the rivers in early 
March, and before the lakes have been freed 
from the ice. It is occasionally found consoit- 
ing with the red-throated diver or loon (U7i- 
nator lumme) just previous to the departure of 
that Arctic species from its irregular winter 
sojourn with us. The two species do not pro- 
bably associate from motives of companionship, 
as the common kind is hardly ever met with in 
more than twos or threes, but they are proba- 
bly brought in contact with their more gregari- 
ous cousins from the fact that good fishing 
grounds are scarce in early March, when the 
lakes are usually frozen solidly, with few ex- 
ceptions. Several times it has been the pleas- 
ure of the writer to observe the two birds to- 
gether on our streams, and witness their points 
of difference and peculiarities. 
The great Northern diver is generally as 
abundant as it will be during the season by 
April 15, as it is believed that migration north 
has ceased by that time, and that all birds in 
Michigan have decided on their breeding 
ground for the season. That the birds are 
mated on their arrival seems probable, as the 
same pair is known to occupy the same nesting 
site or its immediate neighborhood for many 
years. In cases where three or more birds are 
observed in proximity on the same lake, there 
is occasionally evidence of dispute, but the re- 
tirement of all but a pair soon occurs, and then 
the lucky swain and mate are left in undisputed 
possession of the pond or lake. On larger 
lakes it may occur that two or more pairs of 
birds are occasionally found nesting, but in this 
locality never more than one nest is found ona 
body of water. Many pairs rear their young 
on ponds of from ten to a hundred acres extent, 
the old birds seldom feeding on the pond where 
their nest is placed to any extent, but seeking 
their finny prey on larger lakes near; in this 
way their nesting sites are difficult to find, and 
remain safe from invasion by egg collectors. 
Several pairs of birds may be found feeding on 
one large lake without a nest of the species 
being found in its area, and this, too, at a time 
when nesting is in progress, thus showing con- 
clusively that the birds often seek their food 
away from home. 
About May to, or rather earlier, the nests 
are generally begun, the first evidence of a se- 
lected site being the devotion exhibited by the 
prospective parents to a particular portion ot 
