494 
RED-THROATED LOOH. 
the second or third week in June, and, as I am informed by Mr. J. C. Mead, the young 
may he seen in company with their parents, by the first of August, not only swimming hut 
diving well, even at this early age. Mr. Mead also states that the adults are extremely 
solicitous for the safety of their offspring, and if their young chance to he captured, they 
will follow the boat, crying loudly, and often remaining about the spot where the despoiler 
left the water, for some days. The Great Loons are migratory and I have shot them in 
Middle Florida, but they are not common so far south. 
COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS. 
Red-throated Loon. 
Colymbus septentrionali* Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 220. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Sides and upper parts, brownish-black, thickly spotted with 
oval marks of white and the tail is tipped with it. Top of head, greenish-black narrowly streaked with white. Sides of 
head and throat, bluish-ash, with a large triangular patch of chestnut on latter. Beneath, white. Bill, black, iris, ruby- 
red, and feet, greenish. Young, ashy-brown above, each feather having two subterminal spots of white. White beneath, 
occasionally tinged with ashy on throat. Iris, brown; bill, bluish. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known in adult stage by the red throat; in young by the subterminal spotting to feathers above. Distributed in sum¬ 
mer, from Labrador, northward. Winters from Grand Menan, southward. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens. Length, 25*50; stretch, 42*00; wing, 11*30; tail, 2*25; bill, 1*87; tarsus, 2*88. 
Longest specimen, 27*00; greatest extent of wing, 43*00; longest wing, 11 65; tail, 2*55; bill, 2*00; tarsus, 3*00. Shortest 
specimen, 24*00; smallest extent of wing, 41*00; shortest wing, 11*00; tail, 1*95; bill, 1*75; tarsus, 2*75. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground near water, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, two or three in number, pointed oval 
in form, deep greenish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with very dark-brown. Dimensions from 1*75x2*65 to 1*90 
x3*00. 
HABITS. 
I procured a pair of adult Red-throated Loons at the Magdalen Islands in June, hut 
did not see any more, nor do I think that they usually breed there. These Loons are, how¬ 
ever, very abundant in the coast waters of Massachusetts and southward, in autumn and 
winter, behaving much like the larger species. I do not think that either of these Loons 
when adult, assume a winter dress different from that worn in summer, but that the birds 
found with us are merely immature specimens, for I have met with the present species in 
full spring dress, in December. These birds are not very common in the interior but are 
occasionally found on small ponds. None of the Loons can rise from the ground, nor from 
shallow water, nor from deep water, if it be only a few yards in diameter, as they are 
obliged to swim rapidly for some distance, before flying, in order to gain headway. 
COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 
Black-throated Loon. 
Colymbus Arcticus Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 221. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Chin, throat, and neck in front, black with purplish reflec¬ 
tions, becoming ashy-blue above, and separated from the black by a series of white lines. Body above and sides, black. 
Crescent of short lines on throat, spots in bands on back and upper wing coverts, streaks on sides of breast, and under parts, 
white. Line across base of tail beneath and lower coverts, dusky. Iris, ruby-red, bill, black, and feet, slaty. Itoung, 
very dark-brown above, the feathers having broad ashy-gray margins. Side of head, ashy very finely streaked with brown. 
Beneath white becoming ashy on neck. Sides of body and tips of lower tail coverts, dusky. Bill, bluish and iris, brown. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Recognized in the adult stage by the black throat, and in young, by the broad, bluish-gray margin to feathers above. 
Distributed in summer throughout the Arctic Regions, wandering southward in winter. Dimensions. Length, 29 00; 
stretch, 39*50; wing, 12*00; tail, 2*75; bill, 2*45; tarsus, 2*90. 
