GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 
211 
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 Boston, 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 continuing 
under for a length of time. Being a wary bird, it is seldom 
they are killed, eluding their pursuers by their astonishing 
faculty of diving. They seem averse from flying, and are but 
seldom seen on the wing. They are never eaten. 
The loon is restless before a storm; and an experienced 
master of a coasting vessel informed me, that he always knew 
when a tempest was approaching by the cry of this bird, which 
is very shrill, and may be heard at the distance of a mile or 
more. The correctness of this observation I have myself since 
experienced in a winter voyage on the southern coasts of the 
United States. 
This species seldom visits the shores of Britain, except in 
very severe winters ; but it is met with in the north of Europe, 
and spreads along the Arctic coast as far as the mouth of the 
river Ob, in the dominions of Russia. It is found about Spitz- 
bergen, Iceland, and Hudson’s Bay. Makes its nest, in the 
more northern regions, on the little isles of fresh water lakes : 
every pair keep a lake to themselves. It sees well, flies very 
high, and, darting obliquely, falls secure into its nest. Ap- 
pears in Greenland in April or the beginning of May, and 
2. P. rubricollis. Lath. — Rare, and during winter only in the Middle States j very com- 
mon in Arctic America. 
3. P. cornutus. Lath, — Common during winter, the young especially, in the Middle 
States. 
4. P. Carolinensis, Lath. — Little grebe, of Wilson’s List ; inhabits the wdiole continent of 
America, not extending far to the north. Common from Canada to Louisiana, migra- 
ting in the Middle States.— Ed. 
* The loon is said to winter in the Chesapeake Bay. 
