BIRD STORIES 



their places were other birds, much smaller — birds 

 with wings and no teeth; but something like them, for 

 all that: for their feet also "were fitted for swimming 

 and not walking, and they, too, visited the shore little, 

 if at all, except at nesting-time, and they lived upon fish 

 in the water. 



And what their voices were hke, all men may know 

 who will go to the wilderness lakes and listen; for, 

 wonderful as it may seem, these second birds have 

 come down to us through perhaps a million years, and 

 live to-day, giving a strange clear cry before a storm, 

 and at other times calling weirdly in lone places, so that 

 men who are within hearing always say, ^'The loons 

 are laughing." 



Gavia was a loon who had spent the winter of 1919- 

 1920 on the Atlantic Ocean. There had hardly been, 

 perhaps, in a million years a handsomer loon afloat on 

 any sea. Even in her winter coat she was beautiful; 

 and when she put on her spring suit, she was lovelier 

 still. 



She and her mate had enjoyed the sea-fishing and 

 had joined a company of forty for swimming parties 

 and other loon festivities; for life on the ocean waves 

 has many interests, and there is never a lack of enter- 

 tainment. The salt-water bathing, diving, and such 

 other activities as the sea affords, were pleasant for 



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