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Bird - Lore 



racing across the water. Half flying, half swimming, they dash over the smooth 

 water at great speed, forward and back, again and again. Sometimes one or 

 more may chase another, which dashes onward and suddenly plunges beneath 

 the water to escape pursuit ; perhaps it suddenly reappears close to another bird, 

 that, catching the spirit of the play, acts as though seized with panic, and rushes 

 away, pursued by others of the party. While at these sports Loons may be 

 very noisy or nearly silent. 



The social nature of this bird is also shown by the fact that it frequently 

 gathers in companies, and further by the fact that little groups or pairs, scat- 

 tered about in feeding, keep up a vocal communication with each other. 



A LOON'S HOME ON LAKE UMBAGOG, MAINE 

 From the Group in the American Museum of Natural History, Neiv York 



The voice of the Loon is loud, and of volume sufficient to ring above the din 

 of storm and surf, or to echo far and wide to its family or friends over the wide 

 lake, or across spaces of the boundless sea. Its calls are varied, fitting its differ- 

 ent moods, and expressing no mean range of emotions. Like some other birds, 

 this one is decidedly inquisitive, and may be decoyed near an ambush by alter- 

 nately waving and concealing a small cloth on a short rod. It is said that any- 

 thing, as a small mirror, that will reflect a flash of light will also attract it, and 

 an imitation of its voice will frequently have the same effect. 



The beautiful plumage of the Loon has been in demand for millinery pur- 

 poses; and the Indians and Eskimos tan its skin for the manufacture of gar- 



