5g LOONS. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Sept. 3 to Get. 2Q; a few simimer. Cambridge, T. V. in .\pl.; \‘ery eommon 
     
     Sept. to Now; breeds in one locality. 
     
    

    
     Next, a mass of water—soaked, deeayingY Vegetation, sometimes built up 
     
     from the liottom in shallow water. sometimes floating :llllltllg rushes in a slough, 
     
     when it is generally attaehed to its surroundings. 1:}11/s,1'our to eight, dull 
     
     white, more or less soiled or stained, 1-7-1 x 1'11). 
     
    

    
     This is probably the best known of our Grebes, and is the one which 
     
     most frequently tempts the shot. of would-be sportsmen. Its common 
     
     names may stand as an expression of its aquatic powers. lt dives 
     
     head foremost. 01' sinks slowly beneath the water. Like other Grebcs, 
     
     it can swim easily and for an indefinite period with only its bill above 
     
     the water. and its sometimes mysterious and apparently complete dis- 
     
     appearance is explained by this habit. 
     
    
   
   
    
     FAMILY URINATORIDIE. LOONS. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A family containing only five species. inhabiting the northern half 
     
     of the northern hemisphere. The lioons are scarcely less aquatic than 
     
     the Grcbes, and are their equals as divers and swimmers. They visit 
     
     the land only to nest, when their clumsy progress is . ' isted by the 
     
     use of bill and wings. Their food consists of fish. whieh they procure 
     
     by diving, progressing when under water by aid of the feet alone. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     KEY TO rm: s1-1:c11;s. 
     
     A. Throat black. 
     
    
   
   
    
     (1. Head blaek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. LOON. 
     
     17. Head ashy . . . . . i . . . . . . 9. Bi..-\ek»'l‘|iRenal) Loox. 
     
     R. Throat gray, foreneek chestnut . . . . . ll. {Jan-Timon“) LOOK. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ('. Throat white or whitish; bat-k t'useous, margined with grayish. 
     
     a. Wing,r over 13'00; base of bill to anterior end of nostril ‘75 or over. 
     
     7. Loos (lm.). 
     
     1). Wing under 1300; base ot‘ bill to anterior end of nostril less than '75. 
     
     St. BLACK-TilRUA'I‘ED l.ooN (1111.). 
     
     I). Throat white or whitish ; baek tiiseous. spotted with white. 
     
     11. RED-’I‘HROATED Loox (1m). 
     
    
   
   
    
     7. Urinator imber ( (I 112171.). LooN. (See Fig. 5, 17.) Ad. {um/771777.67. 
     
     —[,'ppcr parts, wings, tail, and neck black with bluish or greenish refleetions: 
     
     spaces on the throat and sides- of the neck streaked with white: baek and 
     
     wings spotted and barred with white; breast and belly white; sides and a 
     
     hand at. the base, of the under tail~eoyerts black spotted with white. All. in 
     
     winter mul Imp—l'ppcr parts. wings. and tail blaekish margined with grayish 
     
     not spotted with white: under parts white; throat sometimes washed with 
     
     grayish. l... 32'00: W., 1-1.0“; Tar" :Ho; 1%.. 12'8IL 
     
    

    
     [fang/ailireeds from northern lllinois, Minnesota. and northern New Em:- 
     
     land to the Art-tie ('irele: winters from the southern limit of it: breeding 
     
     raneve tn the (‘mlt‘ot' Mexieo.