38 
GAVIIFORMES 
larger, adults may be distinguished by the black instead of yellow bill and green instead 
of purple reflections on the throat. Juveniles and summer adults have rather pale bills 
and the shape, slightly arched instead of straight culinen (Compare Figure 72 with Figure 
73), is probably the best distinction. As the latter occurs regularly only in the far north 
there is little opportunity for confusing these two. 
From the immature of the Red-throated Loon young birds may be told by size and their 
lack of small, sharply defined white spots on the back. From the juvenile Black-throated 
or Arctic Loon, size appears to be the only reliable criterion in immaturity or winter. 
Field Marks. All black head, throat, and bill. In juvenility or in winter plumage, 
size, and unspotted back. Most of the loons seen on our inland waters are this species. 
A T esting. On boggy or rocky shores close to fresh water "where, when alarmed, it 
can slide directly into the water. The rather bulky nest is built of decaying vegetable 
matter. 
Distribution. Over the whole of continental Canada, rare on the northwest arctic 
coast, breeding wherever conditions are suitable and the birds are not disturbed. In 
many cases they remain in winter as long as the water is open. 
SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies are recognized in America, the Greater Loon (le 
Grand Huart comrnun) Gavia immer immer on the Atlantic coast and in eastern North 
America, and the Lesser Loon (le Petit Huart comrnun) Gavia immer elasson of the 
interior, probably from Manitoba westward. They differ slightly in size as indicated by 
their common names. 
Most frequenters of our waterways and lakes are familiar with the 
long, loud laugh of the loon. The loon has many other strange, wild 
notes; among them one beginning low, rising high, and then dropping 
suddenly. It is often noisy at night or just before a storm and birds 
frequently call to and answer one another across the water. 
Owing to the constant encroachments of settlement, and the conse- 
quent disturbance of its nesting places, the loon has been growing scarcer 
of late years, and in many of its old haunts it is now seldom seen except 
during migration. However, there are still many lonely lakes in the 
great uninhabited north where it can live and breed undisturbed, and the 
immediate loss of this picturesque species need not be anticipated. Proper 
local protection, enforced by an awakened public opinion, would undoubt- 
edly restock our lakes and ponds in summer as well as augment the number 
that make passing visits. Loons are strictly protected at all times by the 
terms of the Migratory Birds Convention Act. They may be legally killed 
nowhere in either the United States or Canada. Under the terms of this 
treaty, only where their depredations are proved to be serious may permits 
be issued for their destruction. 
The damage to game fish charged against loons by anglers may locally 
have some foundation in fact, but is often exaggerated. The failure of 
fish supplies is commonly attributed to every possible cause except the 
most important one, viz., human over-fishing. Too often any fish-eating 
bird or beast is looked upon by self-centred anglers as an intolerable rival 
to be suppressed at any cost, irrespective of the relative importance of its 
depredations. Loons are probably no respecters of any species of fish, 
but they do not frequent swiftly running streams such as trout inhabit 
nor are they often seen in the marshy shallows where game fish usually 
lurk. By preference they keep to open, fairly deep water and their prey 
is mostly small fish of the coarser and less gamy varieties. Where loons 
do occur on limited or special waters, such as preserves or hatchery ponds, 
or even elsewhere, in abnormal numbers, they may interfere more or less 
seriously with special interests. Each such case, however, should be 
settled on its own merits and with consideration for the general good. 
Many people get more enjoyment from the presence of loons than from 
