96 WOOD NOTES WILD. 



breasts, very much as they push themselves in the water. 

 I was also informed that the young are never fed upon 

 the nest, but are taken to the water on the back of the 

 mother, where they remain and are fed for a time, and 

 then are launched upon the waves for life. At this age 

 one can row up to them and take them in the hand, 

 which they delight in giving hard nips with their long, 

 limber bills ; but when a mouth old they seem as wild 

 and cunning as their parents. 



I had several lively frolics with a pair about that age. 

 They were already expert divers and could swim many 

 rods under water. As we neared them in the boat great 

 excitement was manifested by both old and young; the 

 little ones dived in a flash and the parents made off rap- 

 idly, shouting for us to follow them. How they knew the 

 direction the young ones took under water I cannot say ; 

 but they were sure to take quite another course. After 

 learning their trick we turned to go from them, when 

 suddenly there was a furious dashing and splashing just 

 behind us, and in a moment more one of them rushed by, 

 very near us, both flying and swimming, with wings in 

 the air and feet in the water. He swept by us with 

 a noise like a steamboat, but no boat could equal his 

 speed. At every stroke of his wings he smote the water 

 as well as the air. It is the opinion of many that the loon 

 uses the wings under water, which is probably the case. 



When the family discovered that we were only at play 

 with them, they became quiet; but presently there went 

 up a strange wild cry of three tones, the second one being 

 long and loud, and all so much like the call of the human 



