251 
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER OR LOON. 
COLYMBUS GLACMLIS. 
[Plate LXXIV.— Fig. 3.] 
Colymbus ghcialis, Lin. Syst. ed. 12, tom. 1, p. 221, 5. C. immer, Id. p. 222, No. 6.-Ind. 
Orn.p. 799, 1. C. immer. Id. p. 800, H.—Le grand Plongeon, Briss. 6, p. 105, pi. 
\0,Jig. 1. Le grand Plongeon taehete. Id. p. 120, pi. 11,/^. 2.— Ze grand Plan- 
geon, Buff. Ois. 8, p. 251. L'lmbrim, ou grand Plongeon de la mer du nord, Id. p, 
258, tab. 22. PI. enl. 952. — Northern Diver, Lath. Gen. Syn. 3, p. 337. Imber Diver, 
Id. p. 340.— Penn. Brit. Zool. No. 237, 238. Arct. Zool. No. 439, 440.— Bewick, 
-2,/). 168, 170 .— Montagu, Orn. Die. Sup. App .— how. Fauna Orcadensis, p . 108, 
no.— Plongeon Imbrim, Temm. Man. d’Orn. p. 910.— Peale’s Museum, No. 3262, 
male and young . — 3263, female. 
THIS bird in Pennsylvania is migratory. In the autumn it 
makes its appearance with the various feathered tribes that fre- 
quent our waters ; and when the streams are obstructed with ice, 
it departs for the southern states.* In the months of March and 
April it is again seen ; and after lingering awhile, it leaves us for 
the purpose of breeding. The Loons are found along the coast as 
well as in the interior ; but in the summer they retire to the fresh 
water lakes and ponds. We have never heard that they breed in 
Pennsylvania ; but it is said they do in Missibisci pond, near Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts. The female lays two large brownish eggs. 
They are commonly seen in pairs, and procure their food, which is 
fish, in the deepest water of our rivers, diving after it, and contin- 
uing under for a length of time. Being a wary bird, it Is seldom 
they are killed, eluding their pursuers by their astonishing faculty 
* The Loon is said to winter in the Chesapeake bay. 
