LOON; GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 



LOONS, like Grebes, arc among; the most aquatic of birds. All 

 their feeding is done in the water, and their nests are always 

 so placed that the sitting bird can slide quickly into and under 

 the water. They live almost entirely upon fish. These they chase 

 under water, swimming for the most part with the feet alone. Baby 

 loons hatch covered with dense, dusky down, and can swim almost at 

 once. While many Loons spend the winter along shore, often fishing 

 close to the beach, more keep far out, even fifty miles or more from 

 land all the season. When one does come out on land, both bill and wings 

 are used to help the unaccustomed feet. 



Though wintering on salt water, the Loon nests largely on the fresh- 

 water lakes of the North in scattered pairs. There may be heard its 

 wild cry, "one clear, piercing note or a long, quavering, demoniacal 

 laugh, that to the timid suggests a herd of screaming panthers. It is 

 one of the stirring, inspiring sounds in nature." In winter the birds are 

 silent and dressed quietly in brownish-gray above and white below. 



This species breeds in the northern part of North America, Europe 

 and Asia, and winters from about the southern edge of its breeding 

 range to southern Lower California, the Gulf Coast. Florida, the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea and China. 



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