448 THE DIVING BIRDS — PYGOPODES. 



bird upon her back, and in this position they are carried about with her wherever 

 she moves upon the water ; they are thus kept in the rays of the sun. This she 

 continues to do for several days, and until they have grown to a considerable size. 



The Loon very rarely associates in flocks, and then only apparently from necessity 

 — as when a limited surface of open water compels them to crowd together. During 

 the winter, either singly or in pairs, or in small parties, they are dispersed throughout 

 the United States. Knowing that man is its mortal enemy, this bird is constantly 

 on the watch. When it meets a passing boat it Avidens the distance by immediately 

 steering oft", is active in diving, and when sitting, defies the keenest sportsman. It 

 is a very hardy bird, and is said to live to an incredible old age. Giraud states that 

 in 184,") an individual was killed on the eastern end of Long Island, in which was 

 found the head of an Indian file, confined in the back of the neck, between the 

 bone and the skin. The wound was completely healed over, and had the appearance 

 of having been made a long time before ; and it was supposed by some that the wound 

 must have been received before the settlement of the country. 



The flesh of this bird is tough, hard, and unpalatable ; but it is not infrequently 

 eaten by the fishermen. 



The Loon subsists almost entirely on fish, is an excellent diver, and when alarmed, 

 eludes pursuit by passing swiftly to a considerable distance under the water. Its 

 habits are strictly aquatic. When, in its migrations, it passes over the land, it flies 

 at a great height and very rapidly. In stormy weather it takes shelter in coves and 

 creeks, and occasionally in mill-ponds. 



Hearne, in his "Journey to the Northern Ocean," speaks of the Loon as being 

 common in Hudson's I>ay. It is very seldom found there near the sea-coast, but 

 more frequently in fresh-water lakes, and usually in pairs. It makes its nest on the 

 edge of a small island or on the margins of lakes or jjonds, laying only two eggs ; 

 and it is very common to find that a sheet of water is in exclusive possession of one 

 pair and their young. 



This bird is universally known near Hudson's Bay as the Loon ; and it is some- 

 times found so large as to weigh fifteen or sixteen pounds. The flesh, though black, 

 hard, and fishy, is generally eaten by the Indians. It can swim with great swiftness 

 to a considerable distance under water, and when it comes to the surface rarely 

 exposes more than the neck. It takes wing with difliculty, flies heavily, though 

 swiftly, and frequently in a circle round those that intrude on its haunts. Richard- 

 son speaks of its cry as being loud and melancholy — not unlike the howl of a wolf, 

 or, at other times, the distant scream of a man in distress. He caught several in 

 nets, in wliich they had entangled themselves when in pursuit of fish. 



Mr. 11 F. Goss, of Southern Wisconsin, writes me that this bird begins to arrive 

 early in the spring, as soon as the ice first breaks up around the shores of the lakes 

 and streams. During their spring migrations they are sometimes seen in large flocks ; 

 but most of these pass to the northward, only a few remaining through the season to 

 breed. The Loon is formed for swimming and diving — the conformation of its legs 

 being such that for it to stand on the land is nearly impossible ; but in its home 

 on the water it is a graceful and beautiful bird, swimming with the greatest ease, 

 and diving in the most surprising manner. It can swim to a great distance under 

 the water, sinking silently and without aj)parent effort ; and its reappearance will be 

 looked for in vain, even on one of our barge lakes, where the view is unobstructed and 

 the water smootli. It builds its nest about the 20th of May. This is sometimes 

 constructed on a musk-rat's mound, but usually on a small bog, close to the edge, 

 where the bird can slip directly into the water ; it is composed of mud, moss, and 



