FAMILY XXVI. 
PYGOPODES , Illiger. 
GENUS LX V III. — COL YMB US, Linnjsus. 
291 . COLYMBUS GLACIALIS , LINN JE US AND WILSON. 
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON. * 
WILSON, PLATE LXXIV. FIG. III. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This bird in Pennsylvania is migratory. In the 
autumn it makes its appearance with the various feathered 
tribes that frequent our waters ,* and, when the streams 
are obstructed with ice, it departs for the Southern 
States. *j~ In the months of March and April it is again 
feeen, 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 
eldom seen on the wing. They are never eaten. 
The loon is restless before a storm ; and an expe- 
rienced 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 
* This article is by Mr Ord. 
f The loon is said to winter in the Chesapeake Bay. 
