IdO THE LOON. 



This species seldom visits the shores of Britain, except in 

 very severe winters; but it is met with in the north of 

 Europe, and spreads along the Arctic coast as far as the 

 mouth of the river Ob, in the dominions of Russia. It is 

 found about Spitzbergen, Iceland, and Hudson's Bay. 

 Makes its nest, in the more northern regions, on the little 

 isles of fresh-water lakes : every pair keep a lake to them- 

 selves. It sees well, flies very high, and, darting obliquely, 

 falls secure into its nest. Appears in Grreenland in April, 

 or the beginning of May, and goes away in September, or 

 October, on the first fall of snow. It is also found at 

 Nootka Sound, and Kamtschatka. 



The Barabinzians — a nation situated between the river 

 Ob and the Irtisch, in the Russian dominions — tan the 

 breasts of this and other water fowl, whose skins they pre- 

 pare in such a manner as to preserve the down upon them ; 

 and, sewing a number of these together, they sell them to 

 make pelisses, caps, &c. Garments made of these are very 

 warm, never imbibing the least moisture, and are more last- 

 ing than could be imagined. 



The natives of Greenland use the skins for clothing, and 

 the Indians about Hudson's Bay adorn their heads with 

 eirclets of their feathers. 



Lewis and Clark's party, at the mouth of the Columbia, 

 saw robes made of the skins of Loons, and abundance of 

 Ihese birds, during the trme that they wintered at Foit 

 Clatsop, on that river. 



