10 
BIRDS OP^ DURHAM AND VICINITY. 
come regularly to the College reservoir, the mill-pond, and 
Oyster river. When one finds a good feeding ground it will re- 
main for days if undisturbed. They are adroit hiders, and when 
approached gradually, swim slowly, quite without apparent concern, 
till some object intervenes, when they disappear as if by magic. 
Family URINATORID^. 
Gavia imber. Loox. 7 
The Loon is only a passer-by with us though it breeds in the 
larger bodies of fresh water not many miles inland. A few winter off 
our coast. The spring migration takes place in May and then more 
or less are seen on Great Bay. The autumnal movement takes place 
in October and November. The food of loons consists almost 
wholly of fish, which by their prodigious swimming powers they 
are able to overtake and capture. This is the largest and most pow- 
erful of the divers. The length of time one can stay under water and 
the distance he can cover while out of sight is astonishing. It is not 
uncommon to see, along the coast in summer, loons which for some 
reason are not in condition to breed. They usually come near the 
shore to feed and retire further out when killing time, as they seem 
literally to do as they float about, rising every now and then to stretch 
their wings, as if weary of indolence yet powerless to prevent it. If 
one is fortunate enough to find a loon bathing he will enjoy an 
animated spectacle. Although living in water its whole life long, it 
actually devotes a portion of its time to bathing. I was once enter- 
tained for the greater part of an hour on a fine July morning by such 
a scene. It was yet early, and as I came out of some woodland to 
the edge of a quiet arm of the sea, I observed a loon performing his 
ablutions. He would stretch out his neck full length on the water, 
head half under then spread his wings and flap them vigorously, send- 
ing the water flying in all directions and making a noise that was 
audible many rods away. Again, he would thrust his head beneath 
the surface, and, throwing it quickly upward, give himself a shower- 
bath. After doing this a number of times, he would rise and flap 
his wings, then settle back and begin all over again, 
Gavia lumme. Red-throated Loon. i i 
Red-throated Loons are found along the coast in considerable 
abundance during the migration season, but more particularly in the 
fall. Adults appear toward the end of September; later comers are 
