THE LOON. 



897 



stretch of territory. Some of the lakes lying along the western foot of the 

 Cascades contain submerged forests, and the Loon asks nothing better for a 

 nesting site than the stub of a submerged tree broken off at the water line, 



Taheii on J'ancoiti'cr Island. 



NEST AND EGG OF LOON. 



Plioto by IV. I. Burton. 



upon which he may heap a miscellaneous mound of grass, moss, roots, and 

 vines. The external diameter of this nest may be as much as three feet and 

 its depth one; but another time the bird may deposit her eggs on a sandbar 

 with little or no pretense at a nest. 



