BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 55 



gun, but the bird was taken at a disadvantage. It was on the 

 Banana River, Fla., in January, 1900, and it had followed the 

 fish (which were then very numerous) into the shallow water 

 near the shore. Shoals extended out from the shore fully 

 three hundred yards, so that the bird, in diving and sw^im- 

 ming under water, could not use its wings to advantage. It 

 was much impeded by the shoals and the vegetation on the 

 bottom, and in swimming was so near the surface that its 

 course could be followed readily by the ripple that it made. 

 Two strong rowers were thus enabled to follow and overtake 

 it. It escaped the first charge of shot, but its pursuers came 

 so close the second time that the shot went home. In deep 

 water, where the bird can use its wings and fly under water 

 like a bolt from a crossbow, it can easily elude a boat. In old 

 times the gunner used to "toll" the Loon within gunshot by 

 concealing himself and waving a brightly colored handkerchief, 

 while imitating the bird's call. But this will rarely succeed 

 to-day in luring one within reach of a shotgun. 



Loons are rather solitary in the autumn migration. They 

 leave their northern homes and some begin to move south- 

 ward in September, but many remain in the northern lakes 

 until the ice comes. They move south along the larger rivers 

 of the interior, but most of those near the Atlantic take the 

 sea as their highway. 



The Loon feeds verj' largely on fish. As it rests lightly on 

 the surface it frequently thrusts its head into the w^ater and 

 looks about in search of its prey. When pursuing swift fish 

 under water it often uses its wings, by means of which it can 

 overtake the swiftest. This has been repeatedly observed. 

 It can travel much faster under water in this manner than it 

 can on the surface by use of the feet alone. Dr. C. H. Town- 

 send records that he watched a Loon chasing some young 

 Mergansers. The Ducks swam or fluttered along the surface 

 while the Loon followed them under water. They made for 

 the shore in alarm, clambered up on the rocks and escaped. 

 This suggests that Loons may sometimes ])rey on young 

 Ducks. Dr. Warren found the stomachs of two Loons filled 

 with the roots and seeds of aquatic plants. 



