COLYMBUS TORQVATUS. 
493 
ORDER XVIII. PYGOPODES. DIVING BIRDS. 
Wings, not very long. Tail, short. Tibia , inclosed within skin of body. Anterior 
toes, fully webbed, or lobed. Hind toe, and elevated. 
The bill is variable in form, being either pointed or flattened laterally. Sternum, at 
least, twice as long as wide, but with keel low, rarely equalling in height one half its width. 
Marginal indentations, two or four. Coracoids, short, about equalling width of sternum. 
Furcula, short, rather rounded, and well arched. Sterno-traohealis, present, and there is 
a small bronchialis, but no other laryngeal muscles. Sexes, similar. 
FAMILY I. COLYMBIDiE. THE LOONS. 
Bill, about as long as head and pointed. Legs and feet, long. Toes, fully webbed. 
Members of this family have the neck rather long. The legs are placed very far back in 
the body, so that the birds cannot stand in a perpendicular position with ease; and there 
is quite a long, bony process at basal extremity of tibia, which greatly assists in swim¬ 
ming, at which art these birds are very expert. The young are covered with down at birth 
and enter the water at once. Sternum, long with two marginal indentations. 
GENLS I. COLYMBUS. THE LOONS. 
Gen. Ch. Similar to those given under Family heading. There are three species within our limits. 
COLYMBUS TORQUATUS. 
Great Loon. 
Colymbus torquatus Brun. Ora. Bor.; 1764. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Size, very large. Form, robust. Color. Adult. Upper parts, sides and flanks, brownish-black, spotted 
with .rounded marks of white which become larger on back, and linear near neck. Head and neck black, glossed with 
greenish and purple, with evelated lines of white in crescent-shaped spots on throat and sides of neck. White beneath, 
with band across base of tail and tips of under coverts, dusky spotted with white. Iris, ruby-red, bill, black, and feet, 
greenish. Young, brownish above with the feathers edged with lighter, and white below, with iris, brown, bill, bluish. 
Nestlings. A specimen kindly sent me by Mr. J. C. Mead is dark sooty-brown throughout, lightest on neck and gradual¬ 
ly changing to white beneath. Bill and feet, black. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the large size. Distributed, in summer, from Maine, northward; wintering from Massachusetts to Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 32‘00; stretch, 50 - 50; wing, li5*55; tail, 3 50; bill, 
2'75; tarsus, 2 - 65. Longest specimen, 36-00; greatest extent of wing, 52'00; longest wing, 13 - 10; tail, 4 - 00; bill, 3'00; tar¬ 
sus, 2 80. Shortest specimen, 28"00; smallest extent of wing, 49‘00; shortest wing, 12-00; tail, 3-00; bill,2*50; tarsus, 2-50. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground near water, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, two or three in number, rather point¬ 
ed oval in form, deep greenish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with very dark-brown. Dimensions from 2-15x3-50 
to 2-35x3-85. 
HABITS. 
The Great Loons are very abundant in Chesapeake Bay in winter, especially during 
storms, but many fly out to sea in pleasant weather; then as soon as there is an indication 
of a change, back they come into land-locked waters. Just before bad weather? they sound 
their loud, peculiarly long-drawn cry which has a singular effect, especially when heard 
at night on the open ocean, and when sailors hear this note, they say that the Loons are 
crying for wind. The flight of these birds is steady and rapid, while their power of swim¬ 
ming and diving has become proverbial. The Loons breed on inland ponds and lakes, from 
Massachusetts, northward, and the nests are placed on low islands, marshy shores, or occa¬ 
sionally on banks, though at no great distance from the water. The eggs are deposited 
