16 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



water, but when they succeed in taking flight they fly with 

 great rapidity. They are not able to check their speed 

 much and still remain in the air. When ready to alight, 

 they circle over the water getting lower each time until 

 finally they often plunge in with almost the velocity of an 

 express train, making a tremendous noise and half run, 

 half swim, for a considerable distance before they are able 

 to stop. 



Within another week the great diver was able to take 

 to the air himself, and then he accompanied his parents 

 on their daily excursions. In the meantime he had learned 

 to be almost as expert in diving and fishing as his par- 

 ents. 



One day he accompanied them on a prolonged trip to the 

 sea shore. While he was fishing his parents disappeared, 

 he knew not where. At first he was lonely, but he soon 

 discovered many young birds like himself fishing in the 

 same region and made friends with them. These birds 

 soon learned to wander far out at sea, sometimes gathering 

 in large flocks at night to sleep on the surface of the 

 ocean. However, they preferred to sleep on the shore. 



As the weather grew colder, one after another departed 

 for the Southland, and one day the great diver went also. 

 After spending the winter fishing in the lakes and on the 

 coast of Florida he selected a mate with whom he flew to 

 the Northland, and seeking out a lake that was not already 

 occupied by loons set up housekeeping for himself. 



There are several kinds of loons, all of which are much 

 alike in their habits. They breed from the northern part 

 of the United States to Alaska. They love solitude, so sel- 

 dom more than one pair nest in a lake unless it be a large 

 one. They seem not to breed as far South as they did in 



