THE LOON. 89s 



Authorities. — Colyinbus tonjiiatiis llnin., Lawrence, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. 

 IX. pt. II. 1858. p. 888. T. C&S. L'. Rli. J)'. Kk. J. B. E. 

 Specimens. — ( U. of W.) BN. 



AS we gaze upon some ocean grexiinund l\'ing at her moorings, we 

 note with kincUing eye the graceful Hnes of bow and stern, the suggestive 

 inclination (jf mast and funnel, and we declare her perfect for her chosen 

 element, the sea. We know that a trans]jacinc liner wnuld cut a sorr_\' tigure 

 on land and a sorrier still in the air. hut we dn nut allnw ourseh'es to be 

 disturbed by such comparisons. X'iewed strictly as a water birtl. as Nature 

 intended, the Loon is a paragon of beaut\'. Alert, supple, \'igori>us, one 

 knows himself t<.) be in the presence of the master wild thing, when he 

 comes upon a Lch^u on guard in his native element. The bird seems to 

 move about almost without effort, a single backward kick of oue of thcjse 

 immense paddles serving to send it forward at an_\' desired s]ieed, while 

 the head is turned inquiringl_\- from side to side as if to take your measure. 

 A shout, a false motion, the Hash of a gun, and the wild thing has \-an- 

 ished, leaxing scarcelv a ri])ple to mark its recent resting place. It rea])- 

 pears, if at all. at a surprisingl}- great distance, and if reallv alarmed, only 

 tlie head is thrust out of water to take breath, get bearings, and disappear again. 



A Loon is not invulnerable, l)ut an educated l)ird nnisl be secured Iiy 

 stealth ov guile if at all. Generations of gun practice ha\e made llie bird 

 such an expert diver that, g'i\-en room enough in which to di\-e, it is all Ijut 

 impossible to shoot one. Once on Lake Chelan, when I was really desir- 

 ous of securing a specimen. I concealed myself behind an eminence with a 

 Winchester rifle, and shot down at a su])posedl\' nnsus])ecting Loon. After 

 the first shot the l)ird turned and jjaddled slo\\l\- toward the ambuscade 

 with what seemed like an annised smile playing about his features. After 

 the seventh shot, the disappearing target tired of the game and \anished 

 altogether. Poor marksmanship? Not a bit of it. Expert di\ingl On the 

 other hand, I shall ne\er recall withoiU a surge of shame another bird just 

 oft' shore, which was only to ha\e been frightened. I was in full \iew and 

 brought up the shot-gun without aitempl at concealment. The bird ne\er 

 flinched. Sheer butcherv ! P>ut how is one to tell an inyciui from an old- 

 timer? I have done with Loon shooting. 



Lender water the Loon moves with great rapidity, using its wings to 

 assist its pr(^gress. It is thus able easily to ox'ertake a fish, wliich it trans- 

 fi.xes by a stroke of its dagger-like beak and brings to the surface for con- 

 sumption. When the water is clear enough to admit of it, it is a delight to 

 watch the air-bubbles which cling to the diver in the translucent depths, like 

 a silvery coat of mail, and which he shakes off only upon emerging at the 

 surface again. 



In singular contrast to the Loon's facilitv and grace in the water, is its 



